Ruling party and minor allies form joint conference; Innovation Party stays out
In short
South Korea’s Democratic Party and three minor progressive parties — the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party and the Social Democratic Party — formed a “Democratic-Progressive Joint Conference” on Oct 2 to discuss institutionalising alliance politics. The Cho Kuk Innovation Party did not join, and Yonhap reported that unresolved grievances, including a dispute over the nomination of Kim Ji-yong to head the Major Crimes Investigation Agency, are making broader alliance or merger talks difficult.
Why it matters
The joint conference is intended to discuss changing the rules for parliamentary negotiating blocs and for minor parties entering the National Assembly, which would affect how smaller parties operate in the legislature, according to Yonhap. The absence of the Innovation Party, the progressive-leaning opposition party with the most seats, means the wider alliance project remains stalled, with both sides publicly at odds over the Kim Ji-yong appointment.
Key facts
- The Democratic Party, the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party and the Social Democratic Party formed the “Democratic-Progressive Joint Conference” on Oct 2. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The Cho Kuk Innovation Party did not take part. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The conference is to discuss easing the requirements for forming parliamentary negotiating blocs and institutional changes to help minor parties enter the National Assembly. [ 2 ]
- Democratic Party lawmaker Jin Sung-joon said in an Oct 2 press release that the party would keep the door open for the Innovation Party to join. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reported the Innovation Party says the Democratic Party is engaged in “media play” without concrete talks with it. [ 2 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung sent the confirmation hearing request for Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the Major Crimes Investigation Agency, to the National Assembly. [ 2 ]
- The Innovation Party opposes Kim’s appointment and says it will keep that position even if suspicions are explained at the hearing. [ 2 ]
- A Democratic Party official said an alliance or merger would not happen quickly and that the party would seek to narrow differences through behind-the-scenes contacts. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Democratic Party and the Progressive, Basic Income and Social Democratic parties formed the “Democratic-Progressive Joint Conference”. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The Cho Kuk Innovation Party did not participate in the joint conference. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The joint conference is to discuss easing the requirements for parliamentary negotiating blocs and institutional improvements for minor parties’ entry into the National Assembly, as reported by the national news agency Yonhap. [ 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Innovation Party will join the joint conference later. The Democratic Party says the door remains open while the Innovation Party has said it will not take part; the positions come from anonymous officials in a single Yonhap report and no next meeting or format is given.
- Whether Kim Ji-yong will be appointed as head of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency. Only Yonhap reports this, the hearing process is still under way, and the documents give no outcome or timetable.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Oct 2: Seoul Shinmun reports that the Democratic Party and the Progressive, Basic Income and Social Democratic parties held a joint conference, with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party absent. [ 1 ]
- Oct 4: Yonhap reports that the four parties formed the “Democratic-Progressive Joint Conference” on Oct 2, that the Innovation Party stayed out, and that an Innovation Party official reiterated opposition to Kim Ji-yong’s appointment. [ 2 ]