Cho Kuk: "No merger if there is no official position by the 13th" ... proposes meeting with Jeong Cheong-rae

[Financial News] On the 8th, Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, called on Democratic Party of Korea leader Jeong Cheong-rae to "decide on an official position on the merger by the 13th, when the Lunar New Year holiday begins."
At a press conference at the National Assembly that morning, Cho said, "Public disappointment is great, and the wounds among members of both parties are deep. This situation cannot be allowed to continue."
He went on, "If there is no official and public answer by the 13th, the Rebuilding Korea Party will consider that there will be no merger."
He added, "Please make a clear choice about the path to take," and continued, "Make it clear whether you will forgo a merger and instead form an electoral alliance as a separate party, whether you will not pursue an electoral alliance at all, or whether you will compete over values and visions within a single party."
Cho also said, "Please state your stance on the vision and values of the Rebuilding Korea Party," urging, "Make clear whether you will accept or reject our vision of an advanced social-rights state." He added, "During the general election, figures from the People Power Party such as Han Dong-hoon smeared it as a 'commie vision.' Please clarify whether you share a similar view."
He then abruptly proposed a meeting with Jeong to discuss these issues. "Once the Democratic Party of Korea makes an official decision on what I have requested, there should be a meeting between the party leaders," he said. "At that meeting, we will be able to discuss the next steps."
Cho also warned, "I believe the patience of party members in both parties, and of the public, is running out," adding, "If we enter the Lunar New Year holiday in this state, disappointment among party members and the public will accumulate and spread for both parties."
Regarding signs of conflict within the Democratic Party of Korea over the merger, pitting pro–Lee Jae-myung and pro–Jeong Cheong-rae factions against each other, Cho urged, "Do not use me or the Rebuilding Korea Party for internal power struggles," and called on them to "observe basic courtesy toward a friendly party."

gowell@fnnews.com Kim Hyung-gu Reporter