Democratic Party and Open Democratic Party Merge into 'The Democratic Party of Korea'... Total 172 Seats (Comprehensive)

Open Primary System, Limit on More Than Three Terms for National Assembly Members, and National Assembly Member Recall System Promotion

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (left), and Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, are taking a commemorative photo after signing the agreement on the integration of the two parties at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the morning of the 26th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] The Democratic Party of Korea and the Open Democratic Party agreed on the 26th to use the party name "The Democratic Party of Korea."

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, and Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, announced the party-to-party integration agreement and held a signing ceremony at the National Assembly on the same day. In the agreement, both parties decided to use the name "The Democratic Party of Korea."

Their merger is part of the ruling party's grand unification efforts ahead of next year's presidential election, as announced by Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. It has been about one year and nine months since the Open Democratic Party held its founding convention on March 8 last year.

Both parties agreed to pursue political reform agendas such as an open nomination system including proportional representation members of the National Assembly, a limit on serving more than three terms as a member of the National Assembly, and a recall system for National Assembly members. They will also form a special political reform committee with equal participation from both parties. Additionally, they agreed to legislate social reform agendas including the abolition of prosecutorial investigative authority, prohibition of news editing and arrangement by portals, guaranteeing basic political rights for public officials, and establishing a real estate supervisory body. The Open Democratic Party plans to form a separate open camp within Lee’s campaign headquarters to participate.

Leader Choi said, "I think it is very meaningful and I am grateful that the Democratic Party has magnanimously accepted the valuable values the Open Democratic Party has advocated, including open nominations and various political and social reform demands."

In response, Leader Song said, "We will join forces with the Open Democratic Party to discuss various innovation tasks," adding, "Immediately after the integration, we will undertake comprehensive political reform measures such as strengthening popular sovereignty, supplementing party democracy, and reforming the privileges of National Assembly members."

In the Democratic Party, lawmakers Woo Sang-ho and Kang Hoon-sik, and in the Open Democratic Party, former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju and lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom conducted practical negotiations as representatives.

The Open Democratic Party is expected to conduct a party-wide vote based on the agreement contents over two days from the 29th to the 30th, followed by a final decision through the supreme council.

The Democratic Party also plans to proceed with internal procedures such as a party-wide vote, central committee resolution, and supreme council approval. The Democratic Party aims to complete internal procedures by the second week of January next year.

The Open Democratic Party has three lawmakers, and upon completing the merger with the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party’s total seats will be 172.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.