DPK may seek 'consolidation' with Open Minjoo Party after election
Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its 'satellite' party, Civil Together, pose during a ceremony to announce joint policy pledges in a ruling party meeting room at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday, eight days ahead of the April 15 general election. Yonhap
By Jung Da-min
A week ahead of the April 15 general election, it seems that the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is failing to divert its high approval rating to its “satellite party,” Civil Together, created by pro-Moon Jae-in civic groups and several minor liberal parties.
If Civil Together fails to get as many proportional representation seats as the DPK expects, the latter may consider approaching the Open Minjoo Party with a view to a merger, or at least a cooperative agreement, according to some analysts. The Open Minjoo Party was set up by activists and DPK politicians who failed to be selected as candidates by the DPK.
Earlier this year, the nation's two major parties ― the DPK and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) ― created “paper parties” in a bid to win more proportional representation seats under the new electoral system designed to give more of these to minor parties. These satellite parties are participating only in the proportional representation vote, not in constituency voting.
The proportional representation seats are decided by on votes for a party, but recent surveys have shown that Civil Together is not receiving as much support as it and the DPK expected. This is mainly because support for the liberal bloc has been divided, with some supporting Civil Together and others, the Open Minjoo Party.
Moreover, support for the Open Minjoo Party is increasing. According to a survey of 2,521 eligible voters conducted by Realmeter from Monday to Friday last week, support for Civil Together was 21.7 percent, down 8.1 percentage points from a week earlier. Support for the Open Minjoo Party was 14.4 percent, up 2.7 percentage points.
Members of the minor liberal Open Minjoo Party appeal to voters on a street in Busan, Saturday. Yonhap
Meanwhile, the UFP's satellite Future Korea Party took the lead in the survey with support of 25 percent, although this was down 2.4 percentage points from the previous week.
Political analysts say the DPK could seek a “strategic partnership” with the Open Minjoo Party after the election if the latter succeeds in winning a “considerable” number of seats. But they said the form of such a partnership could differ depending on the Open Minjoo Party.
“The DPK has stated that it will not allow those who left the party to run as independents in the general election to return to the party afterwards, but such a principle changes according to political calculations,” said Choi Young-il, a political commenter and adjunct professor at Kyung Hee Cyber University. “As members of the Open Minjoo Party are former members of the DPK, it could be a favorable partner for possible consolidation after the election.”
Choi also noted there was the possibility that the Open Minjoo Party could remain independent rather than merging into the ruling party.
Park Myoung-ho, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Dongguk University, said the biggest variable for potential consolidation between the DPK and the Open Minjoo Party was the general election results.
“If the Open Minjoo Party obtains a considerable number of seats, it could pressure the DPK in allying with it; but it could seek to keep its own voice, putting the two parties in a situation where they compete with each other even after forming a partnership in the broader sense,” Park said. “This is rather a strategic division within the liberal bloc to increase its slice of the pie as much as possible.”