3 Parties to Begin Merger Talks

By Kim Yon-se

Staff Reporter

The pro-government Uri Party, the Democratic Party (DP) and a group of lawmakers who left the Uri Party will begin merger talks soon, party officials said Thursday.

The minor opposition DP has expressed its willingness to have talks for coalition with the Uri Party and the deserters’ group which launched a new party early this week.

The Uri Party and the new party are welcoming the proposal from the DP, being poised to be active in coming talks for a merger of the three parties.

Wednesday, the DP proposed a meeting with the embattled Uri Party and the deserters. It also took a step back from its initial position that it should take the helm of the merger drive.

Uri Party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun welcomed the proposal, saying, ``I want to meet DP Chairman Park Sang-cheon any time, and talk openheartedly about a coalition.’’