The Fatherland Innovation Party is growing in demand, and the Democratic Party is annoying.

‘General election bills’ such as joint conferences
Proposals are repeatedly rejected and solidarity breaks down.

Lee Jae-myung and Cho Kuk ‘dinner meeting’
“We decided to discuss channels between the heads of political affairs”

Cracks are appearing in the ‘April 10 general election solidarity’ between the Democratic Party of Korea and the Fatherland Innovation Party. The change in relationship was directly felt when the Fatherland Innovation Party began demanding a kind of ‘general election bill’ from the Democratic Party. Following the easing of the requirements for forming an in-house negotiating group (20 seats), the Democratic Party of Korea proposed a joint pan-opposition meeting to President Yoon Seok-yeol and Representative Lee Jae-myung ahead of the summit meeting. The Democratic Party rejected virtually all of the proposals.

A key official of the Fatherland Innovation Party said in a phone call on the 25th, “We were allies during the general election, but I cannot understand why they suddenly became the target of checks one day.”

Democratic Party members emphasize the ‘weight difference’. Supreme Council member Jang Gyeong-tae said on SBS radio that day, “Why don’t we come to the Democratic Party and hold a joint meeting with the opposition party? “Then should we call CEO Lee Jun-seok and New Future emergency committee chairman Lee Seok-hyun and do everything?” he said. Kim Hyun-jeong, the Gyeonggi-do Pyeongtaek soldier-elect who served as the party representative’s press advisor, said on KBS radio, “The summit meeting is a matter between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Representative Lee Jae-myeong.”

As analysis continued that the relationship between the two parties was not the same as during the election, Representative Lee had a dinner meeting with Representative Cho for about 2 hours and 30 minutes at a Chinese restaurant in Anguk-dong, Seoul that evening. The dinner was held at the suggestion of Representative Lee, and was attended by Kim Woo-young, political affairs director of the Democratic Party, and Cho Yong-woo, political affairs director of the New Fatherland Innovation Party.

In a written briefing after the dinner, the Democratic Party said, “We decided to meet frequently and talk openly, regardless of the agenda,” and “We decided to discuss the content and processing order of common bill policies between the two parties through a channel between the political office heads of both parties.” He said. At the dinner, Representative Lee asked the Fatherland Innovation Party to play a leading role in social reform, and Representative Cho reportedly said that he hopes the Democratic Party will fulfill its heavy responsibility and role as an authoritative party.

Despite today’s meeting, the path ahead for the Fatherland Innovation Party does not seem to be smooth. Without the cooperation of the Democratic Party, there is little that can be done independently in the National Assembly. Rep. Hwang Un-ha, who was elected as the floor leader of the Reform Party of Korea, said about the ‘Special Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon Act’ promised as the first bill of the 22nd National Assembly, “For this bill to actually pass, the cooperation of the Democratic Party is absolutely necessary.”

The fact that both Representative Cho and Floor Leader Hwang’s ‘two tops’ face judicial risks is also a cause for concern. In November last year, floor leader Hwang was sentenced to three years in prison in the first trial for the Moon Jae-in administration’s intervention in the Blue House Ulsan mayoral election. Representative Cho was also sentenced to two years in prison in the first and second trials for his child’s college entrance exam irregularities and the Blue House inspection incident. If they are found guilty by the Supreme Court, they will lose their seats as lawmakers.

The Fatherland Innovation Party plans to compete with speed and clarity. An official from the Fatherland Innovation Party said, “Our top priority is to move clearly, quickly, and strongly so that the people who support the Fatherland Innovation Party can feel a sense of efficacy.” “I don’t think about adding two and two together.”