Kim Min-seok and Jang Dong-hyuk Push for Unity Backed by Lee and Park, While Dissenters Walk Out

【Financial News, Goyang, Gyeonggi/Incheon = Jiwon Song, Lee Hae-ram, Kim Hyeong-gu】 As the September regular National Assembly session approaches, the leaderships of both the ruling and opposition parties have moved to tighten internal unity with backing from former and current presidents. But real party unity still appears far off. Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, recently received a call from President Lee Jae-myung to operate as a "one team" with the government and the presidential office. He also stressed harmony at a workshop for the upcoming session, but openly clashed with former leader Jung Cheong-rae over policy direction. Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, also received a boost when former President Park Geun-hye personally attended the party's training session and urged unity. Even so, three of the four lawmakers outside the leadership who recently received heavy disciplinary action did not attend the event.
On the 27th, the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party each held a workshop and a training session in Incheon and Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, respectively, ahead of the regular National Assembly session. The Democratic Party focused on strengthening unity among the party, government and presidential office over the 100-day session, while speeding up legislation for key state agenda items. It also sought to smooth over internal rifts over policy direction that surfaced during the party convention. Earlier, at a dinner with the new ruling party leadership, President Lee said, "Even twins born from the same womb are different. If you start looking for differences, you will end up as enemies. If you look for common ground, you will become close brothers," emphasizing harmony.
Kim said that he had recently spoken with Jung and described him as a typical advocate of the view that "there is no middle ground." He explained that he and President Lee believe the party must broaden its base beyond its traditional supporters to include moderates and conservatives. "We need to understand our differences and align our direction through as much comradely discussion as possible," he said, stressing unity.
Jung, however, showed displeasure and left the workshop midway through. He later protested on social media, saying, "It is almost violent to single out a rival from the party convention by name and make one-sided claims. It is rude and violent microphone dictatorship." He also drew a line against the appearance of division within the party, saying, "The success of the Lee Jae-myung administration is our shared goal. I will fully cooperate wherever cooperation is needed going forward."
Unity was also the main theme in the People Power Party. Park, invited as a special speaker at the training session, said, "The smaller the group, the more it must come together and unite," adding, "When fighting an external enemy, nothing is more frightening than division within our own ranks." She also said, "If we pool our strength, work hard and earn the public's trust, we could become the majority party and even regain power."
Park then backed Jang's leadership by saying, "In difficult times, we must move forward in unity and solidarity around the leadership." Jang also appealed for cohesion in his remarks, saying, "The road ahead will be long and difficult, but I believe we can overcome it if we stand together and fight as one," and, "If we become one, we will surely achieve it."
However, despite Park's call for unity, three of the four sitting lawmakers outside the leadership who recently received heavy disciplinary action — Cho Kyoung-tae, Kwon Young-jin, Seo Beom-su and Jin Jong-oh — did not attend the training session. Only Cho was present. Tensions also continue between the leadership and senior lawmakers and non-leadership faction members over the direct election of party committee chairmen by party members, leaving the conflict unresolved.
Both parties plan to settle internal disputes and concentrate their efforts during the regular National Assembly session, with the ruling party pushing state agenda items and the opposition stepping up attacks on the government. The Democratic Party will focus on legislation for major state projects, including mega-projects, based on unity among the party, government and presidential office. The People Power Party aims to highlight the administration's failures in real estate, instability in the domestic stock market, public safety concerns stemming from inadequate police investigations, and foreign affairs and security issues in order to regain momentum.

[email protected] Song Jiwon, Lee Hae-ram, Kim Hyeong-gu Reporter