Democratic Party and Innovation Party Agree on 'Unification Promotion Committee' After Halting Merger

Jeong Cheongrae: "All-In for Victory in the Local Elections"
Cho Kuk: "Accepting the Democratic Party’s Alliance Proposal"

Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, has agreed to Jeong Cheongrae and the Democratic Party of Korea’s proposal to form a committee to pursue unification. The Democratic Party leadership emphasized internal unity, while the Innovation Party expressed its intention to restore alliance, moving to mend conflicts that had surfaced during the merger talks.

At a Supreme Council meeting on Feb. 11, 2026, Democratic Party leader Jeong said, "The leadership will become even more united and set an exemplary standard." Referring to former Presidents Kim Daejung and Roh Moo-hyun, who had stressed persuasion and unity in the past, he said, "We will achieve complete unity based on our 'great common ground' solely for victory in the local elections, overcoming the small differences among us."

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 11th. 2026.2.11 Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Jeong said, "We can no longer waste our strength on controversy over a merger," adding, "We will turn this crisis into an opportunity and go all-in for victory in the local elections." He also stated, "The timetable to complete all nominations by April 20 will proceed without a single deviation," and added, "There will be no unfair cutoffs. As promised, we will guarantee the participation of dues-paying members in the nomination process and nominate the most competitive candidates."

Lee Eonju, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party who had raised objections to a merger before the local elections in opposition to Jeong, said, "In actively representing the voices of party members and checking against an unreasonable decision-making schedule, there were times when I argued strongly," and added, "If I have caused concern to fellow party members and colleagues, I apologize here and now." Kang Deukgu, another Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said, "It has been a very difficult three weeks since the merger controversy," and added, "From now on, I will focus all my capabilities on supporting the state affairs of the Lee Jae-myung administration and securing a landslide victory in the local elections."

Cho Kuk, leader of the Joguk Innovation Party, is expressing his position at the National Assembly regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's proposal to form a preparatory committee to promote alliance and integration on Feb. 11, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The Innovation Party, which had been the counterpart in the merger talks, expressed its willingness to accept Jeong’s apology over the merger controversy and the formation of a "Preparatory Committee for Alliance and Unification." At an emergency press conference the same day, Innovation Party leader Cho said, "We agree to the formation of the 'Preparatory Committee for Alliance and Unification' proposed by the Democratic Party of Korea," adding, "Within this week, we will convene the Party Affairs Committee to obtain approval for today’s decision." He went on, "Once a meeting between the two parties takes place, we must first confirm whether the alliance proposed by the Democratic Party is an alliance specifically for the local elections or merely an alliance as an abstract slogan," and added, "If the alliance proposed by the Democratic Party is indeed an alliance for the local elections, the preparatory committee will determine the principles and methods for it."

However, questions still remain over the relationship between the two parties. Regarding the Democratic Party’s proposal to pursue alliance and unification, Innovation Party spokesperson Park Byeongeon explained, "Even in relation to a merger, they did not use the word ‘merger’ but instead referred to it as ‘integration after the local elections.’ The Democratic Party needs to clarify how this is substantively different from a merger. Depending on the meaning, our party’s response could change."

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