In response to Cho Kuk's side's demand for an apology... Kim Min-seok says, "I don't know what you're talking about."

[Financial News] Differences in opinion are emerging between the Democratic Party of Korea and the Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) over discussions of a merger. While the RKP took issue with the Democratic Party of Korea's past criticism of socialist policies and raised the need for an apology from Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok, Kim drew a line, saying, "I don't really know what they are talking about." Regarding the possibility of a merger, he also urged a measured approach, saying, "A merger is not a given." As the Democratic Party of Korea and the RKP begin discussions with both a merger and an alliance open as options, attention is focused on how the two sides will find common ground over past remarks and the preconditions for integration.

Kim appeared on the Democratic Party of Korea's YouTube program 'Minty07' on the 8th and, in response to a related question, said, "First of all, I don't really know what you're talking about. I don't know whether the party has ever done that."
The host that day mentioned that remarks made by Cho Kuk's side the previous day suggested that restoring trust between supporters of the Democratic Party of Korea and the RKP should come first. In particular, the host explained that the remarks implied that Kim needed to apologize over criticism from the Democratic Party of Korea that the RKP's policies were socialist.
In response, Kim said, "I think you need to understand the situation accurately," adding, "Right now, a merger is not a given; we could merge or form an alliance." He added that the matter had been entrusted to the relevant body, saying, "I am not talking about it at all, in fact."
Kim also emphasized that the final decision on integration between the two parties rests with their members. He said, "If we discuss it sufficiently and the members of both parties give overwhelming approval, we could merge, or we could form an alliance," adding, "I believe it would be best for the current leadership, including me, not to discuss it at all for now."
Regarding the claim that he had criticized the RKP's policies as socialist, Kim said, "I don't know who said that personally, so I'm not sure," adding, "I have never said anything like that, so I don't know what you mean." This is understood as emphasizing that, while leaving open the possibility of a merger or alliance between the two parties, the leadership is not leading the discussions toward a predetermined conclusion.


Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Song Young-gil, who appeared on the broadcast with Kim that day, also criticized recent remarks by Cho Kuk's side.
Regarding a recent statement by Cho Kuk's side concerning President Lee Jae Myung's case, Song said, "Even if we try to understand the sentiment behind it, there is a time and place for everything."
Song said, "We are currently in a situation where we are even discussing the impeachment of Cho Hee-dae," adding, "This is not the time to say such things. Aren't we also planning to pass a special prosecutor bill concerning the prosecution's unjust indictment?"
He continued, "If someone says something out of step with the time and place, it can only be interpreted differently from what they intended," adding, "That is why people use the expression 'lacking political sense.'"
He added, "I find it regrettable that he says such things so absurdly and out of place, then makes excuses by saying that wasn't what he meant."

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter