Democratic Party Leadership Contenders Launch Anti-Lee Jae-myung Unity... 'Divergent Opinions Even Within the 97 Group'

Kang Byung-won·Park Yong-jin "Let's Start Unification Even Before Cutoff"
Park Joo-min "Open but Need to Seek Value Consensus"
Kang Hoon-sik "Should Consider After Cutoff"

On the 21st, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, candidates Park Ju-min, Kang Byung-won, Kang Hoon-sik, and Park Yong-jin, who attended the debate hosted by the Democratic Party of Korea's re-elected members' meeting for party leader candidates, are clapping after a commemorative photo. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ahead of the Democratic Party leadership election cut-off, the so-called 97 Group within the party, who have announced their candidacy for party leader, have begun seeking a candidate unification plan to oppose Assemblyman Lee Jae-myung. However, differing opinions within the group are expected to cause difficulties in unification.

On the 21st, the 97 Group (those who entered university in the 1990s and were born in the 1970s), including Kang Byung-won, Kang Hoon-sik, Park Yong-jin, and Park Joo-min, attended the 'Party Leader Candidate Debate' hosted by re-elected Democratic Party lawmakers to discuss unification plans. At this meeting, Assemblymen Kang Byung-won and Park Yong-jin advocated in principle for an anti-Lee Jae-myung unification. However, Assemblyman Kang Hoon-sik suggested discussing it after the cut-off, and Assemblyman Park Joo-min took a cautious stance, saying that "a consensus on values needs to be sought."

Assemblyman Kang Byung-won said, "How about declaring the direction for unification among the remaining candidates excluding Assemblyman Lee Jae-myung before the cut-off?" He added, "I hope that whoever survives among the 97 generation will unify and realize their intentions." Prior to the debate, Kang also proposed via social media (SNS), "Please join the 'joint declaration of primary unification' before the cut-off on the 28th, which will narrow down the party leader candidates to three."

Assemblyman Park Yong-jin, who has expressed support for unification regardless of the cut-off timing, asked Assemblyman Park Joo-min whether he agrees with a non-Lee Jae-myung unification and about unification with Assemblyman Lee Jae-myung. Assemblyman Park Joo-min said, "I am open to unification," but added, "There needs to be a process to find common ground on values and the direction of party innovation. A dialogue process is necessary to find this." Regarding unification with candidate Lee Jae-myung, Assemblyman Park Joo-min said, "I have not considered it." During this process, Assemblyman Park Yong-jin referred to Assemblyman Lee Jae-myung as "not the subject of innovation but the object of innovation."

Assemblyman Park Joo-min, who has been pointed out inside and outside the party as a running mate or pacemaker for Assemblyman Lee Jae-myung, denied the related rumors for now. Park said, "I don't know how I would be a running mate or pacemaker," and added, "I came out to win this election." When asked about what he sees as Lee Jae-myung's gray rhino (a highly probable and impactful but overlooked risk), Assemblyman Park mentioned "judicial risk."

Assemblyman Kang Hoon-sik, who has kept a relatively distant stance regarding unification discussions, said in a phone call about unification, "We should naturally consider it after the cut-off." Regarding the proposal to agree on principles before the cut-off, he said, "I don't know what meaning that would have," and added, "I think we can naturally talk about it after the cut-off."

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