Ruling party in dilemma over 'satellite party' creation

Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) election management committee attend a meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Feb. 28. DPK floor leader Rep. Lee In-young, right, general secretary Rep. Yun Ho-jung, second from right, were among five DPK members who reportedly discussed plans to launch a satellite party at an unofficial meeting. Yonhap

DPK considers forming coalition with minor parties to win April election

By Jung Da-min

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is facing a dilemma over whether to create a “satellite party,” as the possibility of the party taking majority in the 300-seat National Assembly seems to be low under the new electoral system.

Some party members say it is necessary for the party to set up such an organization or otherwise explore other options, such as forming a progressive coalition with minor parties under the slogan of political reform. Others say such options are contrary to the purpose of the new electoral system that is aimed at making the Assembly more reflective of the various policies of different parties.

In late December, the Assembly passed the electoral system change bill pushed ahead by the DPK and four minor parties. Under the new system to be applied starting at the April 15 general election, 47 of 300 seats are set for proportional representation. Minor parties, which usually do not take large numbers of seats for constituencies, will stand a better chance of winning proportional representation seats.

The then-main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), which is now the United Future Party (UFP) after a merger with a conservative minor party, strongly opposed the system change because it meant the party was unlikely to win as many proportional representation seats as before.

In an attempt to subvert the new system, some LKP (now UFP) members left the party voluntarily and set up the Future Korea Party as a satellite party to the LKP, on Feb. 5. The satellite party aims to take as many proportional representation seats as possible and subsequently remerge with the main opposition UFP after the election.

The DPK and other liberal minor parties have strongly denounced the conservative satellite party, saying such a move undermines the purpose of the electoral system change. However, as the election date nears and the ruling bloc's approval rating is falling amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the DPK is now realizing it may lose the majority position in the next National Assembly to the conservative big tent.

A recent media report on an unofficial meeting between five DPK members including its floor leader Rep. Lee In-young and general secretary Rep. Yun Ho-jung, said that they were planning to launch a satellite party, but Yun later told reporters that such an idea is against the DPK's stance since they acknowledge that the Future Korea Party, the UFP's satellite party, is ruining the meaning of the electoral reform.

Many of the DPK members agree that creating a satellite party is not an option, as it could lead to a loss of public trust as well as confidence from the four minor parties it had partnered with to pass the electoral reform bill.

“The DPK pushed ahead with the electoral reform and condemned the launch of the UFP's satellite party … We ask people to exercise wise judgment on the Future Korea Party,” Rep. Kim Hae-young, a member of the DPK's Supreme Council, said during a party meeting, Friday last week.

Another DPK member Rep. Choi Jae-sung said Monday at a press conference at the Assembly, “The party should not give up the cause of the electoral reform for fear of losing some proportional representation seats.”

But other DPK members say forming a strategic coalition with liberal civic groups could be an option for a “detour” to win the election. Recently, some civic groups presented a proposal to the DPK and other liberal minor parties, under which the groups would create a party consisting of some members from the DPK and the liberal minor parties in order to win proportional representation seats under the new party's ticket. Those lawmakers would then return to their original parties.

To be successful, the plan requires consent and participation from minor parties. However, some minor parties are reluctant to join the move because the participation could suggest their absorption into the bigger DPK.

“We can't agree on the proposal (from the civic groups),” minor progressive Justice Party spokeswoman Kang Min-jin said, Monday. “Responding to a trick with another trick will only give indulgence to the UFP's shameless acts.”

Justice Party Rep. Lee Jeong-mi also said the coalition plan could backfire. “Centrist voters could think the DPK is the same as the UFP and turn their back on the DPK. Then the ruling party, while trying to take a couple of more proportional representation seats, could be in bigger trouble,” Lee said in a radio show, Thursday.