Ruling party to launch inter-Korean peace strategy committee

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Jung Chung-rae speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) will launch an internal committee focused on inter-Korean peace to support the government's engagement efforts with North Korea, party chairman Rep. Jung Chung-rae said Friday.

The liberal party leader said the move is intended to support the Lee Jae Myung administration's push for rapprochement with Pyongyang.

"President Lee needs a variety of cards to normalize the South Korea-U.S. alliance and inter-Korean relations. The DPK will not hesitate to play a leverage role," Jung said at his first press conference since taking office in August.

"To that end, we will establish a new strategy committee for peace on the Korean Peninsula within the party by inviting distinguished experts."

The committee, to be launched in the near future, will be led by former Unification Ministers Chung Se-hyun and Lee Jae-jung, as well as former special adviser for security affairs Moon Chung-in.

The three figures named to lead the committee are widely seen as representing the "autonomy-minded" camp within South Korea's foreign and security policy circles, in contrast to the "alliance first" camp. The former emphasizes Seoul's independent policy space in engaging Pyongyang, while the latter prioritizes coordination with Washington.

Moon Chung-in, left, special adviser for foreign affairs and national security, speaks with Chung Se-hyun, vice chairman of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council in this April 20, 2020 photo. Newsis

Tensions between the two camps have resurfaced following recent clashes between the foreign and unification ministries over which organization should take the lead in inter-Korean affairs.

The DPK's decision to place these figures at the forefront of its committee suggests that the autonomy-minded camp may gain greater sway over the Lee administration’s approach to North Korea.

However, Jung stopped short of endorsing either approach, saying that "black-and-white thinking" should be avoided to achieve tangible progress in engagement with North Korea.

During the hour-long press conference, the DPK chairman sharply criticized the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), saying it should be disbanded if its ties to the Unification Church are legally confirmed.

"Through a special prosecutor investigation into the Unification Church, the allegations surrounding the PPP's acceptance of political donations during the 2022 presidential election must be thoroughly probed," he said.

Citing the Constitution's prohibition on collusion between religion and politics, he stressed that "a political party whose objectives or activities violate the basic democratic basic order is subject to dissolution."

His remarks come as growing bribery allegations linked to the Unification Church have roiled political circles in recent months.

What began as a special counsel probe into former first lady Kim Keon Hee's improper ties to the Unification Church has expanded to include alleged links involving former PPP leader Kweon Seong-dong. Kweon is currently standing trial on charges of accepting 100 million won ($75,000) in illegal donations from the church.

The scandal has since widened to include figures from the ruling party as well. Earlier this month, Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo, a DPK member, stepped down from his post amid suspicions that he received 20 million won from the church.

Jung also reaffirmed his commitment to push ahead with judicial reform bills as part of his legislative priorities.

"I will keep pressing the pedal of reform without letting up," he said.

The DPK has been seeking to pass judicial reform bills, arguing that court proceedings linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law case have been repeatedly delayed or dismissed.

The proposed legislation includes measures to punish judges, prosecutors and police officers found to have distorted the law, as well as plans to increase the number of Supreme Court justices. The move has drawn strong opposition from PPP, which accused the bills of undermining the independence of the judiciary.