Cracks emerge in Democratic Party–Cho Kuk Innovation Party alliance talks before they even begin
The alliance between the Democratic Party of Korea and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party is turning rocky as of Thursday, after the Innovation Party notified the ruling party it would skip a joint caucus meeting formed with other minor liberal parties. The Democratic Party, along with the Progressive Party, Basic Income Party, and Social Democratic Party, formed the 'Democratic-Progressive Joint Caucus' on Tuesday. The caucus plans to discuss easing requirements for negotiating bloc status and institutional reforms to help minor parties enter the National Assembly.
The Innovation Party had already made its own judgment. It has declared it will not take part, saying it cannot join a joint caucus that exists only 'for photo ops.' The party believes the Democratic Party is engaging in mere 'media play' without substantive discussion. With a merger pushed during former leader Chung Chung-rae's tenure having collapsed once before, the Innovation Party remains skeptical of the alliance and integration message put forward after new leader Kim Min-seok took office.
The Democratic Party maintains that the door is not closed. Rep. Jin Sung-joon, head of the progressive party alliance division of the Democratic Party's Unification Task Force, said in a press release on Tuesday, "We believe the Innovation Party's participation is possible, so we have decided to keep the door open rather than close it."
A variable making the alliance even harder is the appointment of Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. President Lee Jae-myung sent a motion requesting a confirmation hearing for Kim to the National Assembly, effectively moving forward with the appointment. The Innovation Party, meanwhile, maintains its opposition. An Innovation Party official said by phone on Thursday that the party would keep its opposition to Kim's appointment.
A Democratic Party official said, "Whether it's a coalition or an alliance, it won't happen overnight," adding that the party would work to narrow differences through behind-the-scenes contacts.
