DPK broadens 'big tent' coalition with more conservative supporters

Former Reform Party leader Her Eun-a, second from left, and former independent Rep. Kim Sang-wook, right, who left the People Power Party and joined the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), are seen smiling as they attend a campaign rally for DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

The liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is witnessing an influx of figures from traditionally conservative factions. This strategic expansion of its “big tent” approach is expected to shift the balance of power and potentially reshape the nation’s political landscape.

Ironically, it was originally the conservative People Power Party (PPP) that was pursuing a big tent strategy, aimed at uniting people from diverse political backgrounds to maximize electoral support as part of its campaign to oppose DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung.

However, recent developments show it is the DPK, not the PPP, that is expanding its broad-based political coalition more swiftly at this stage of the campaign ahead of the June 3 election.

A group of conservative-leaning politicians from the minor conservative Reform Party recently joined the DPK’s campaign. This group includes the Reform Party's former leader Her Eun-a, former policy chief Kim Yong-nam and former lawmaker Rep. Moon Byeong-ho. They left the Reform Party earlier this year after conflicts with its presidential candidate, Lee Jun-seok.

Additionally, Rep. Kim Sang-wook, a former PPP lawmaker who had openly opposed the party's stance on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, left the conservative camp and joined the DPK, officially endorsing Lee Jae-myung in the upcoming presidential election.

Rep. Yun Ho-jung, general director of the Democratic Party of Korea’s central election committee, speaks during a general meeting of the committee at the party's headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Regarding their decision to join, Rep. Yun Ho-jung, general director of the DPK’s central election committee, said during a meeting Tuesday, “Patriotic forces opposing insurrection are coming together not based on ideology, but in the national interest, to stand against a corrupt far-right cartel.”

He further emphasized that these moves are clear evidence of the DPK’s "big tent for the people" expanding.

The DPK presidential candidate echoed this sentiment, urging those he described as "suffering under the illusion of a torn, fake big tent" of the PPP to join the party, asserting that his camp represents the real big tent.

However, critics question whether these former members of rival factions can truly establish themselves in a party increasingly dominated by pro-Lee forces, which some view as having a unipolar power structure.

People Power Party interim leader Kim Yong-tae, left, shakes hands with New Future Democratic Party leader Jun Byung-hun at Kensington Hotel Yeouido in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The PPP is also attempting to unite conservative forces, after initially failing to unify for a single candidacy between former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and current candidate Kim Moon-soo.

But it has yet to make a visible impact comparable to the DPK's.

PPP interim leader Kim Yong-tae met with New Future Democratic Party leader Jun Byung-hun, Tuesday, to discuss a strategic alliance aimed at preventing the DPK candidate from winning the election. The party was co-founded in 2024 by Lee Nak-yon, a former prime minister during the Moon Jae-in administration, in protest of Lee Jae-myung's increasing dominance within the DPK.

"After today’s discussions, we will determine whether we can form a constitutional reform coalition. We’ll need to evaluate if we can truly defend the values of liberal democracy and engage in meaningful dialogue," Kim said after the meeting.

Jun said, "We are at a pivotal historical moment — whether Korea will see the emergence of a totalitarian regime, where legislative, judicial and executive powers are all consolidated, will be decided in this election."

Members of the People Power Party (PPP) discuss campaign matters with former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, second from left, in Hawaii, Monday (local time). Courtesy of PPP spokesperson Lee Seong-bae

However, Jun emphasized that any potential alliance with the PPP should come only after the party achieves internal unity, marked by a clear alignment among key conservative figures such as former Prime Minister Han, former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon and former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo.

The three high-profile figures refused Kim's offer to take official posts at the party's election committee. After more than a week of pause, Han Dong-hoon started a separate campaign for Kim on Tuesday, while Hong left for Hawaii right after the PPP's primary. Some PPP members recently visited Hong there and said he clearly signaled his opposition to the DPK.

The PPP is also cautiously seeking a candidacy merger with Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, who was a former PPP leader. But Lee has so far flatly refused any offers, saying such a coalition will look "very outdated."