김민석 “연대 속도 내겠다”…혁신당 “제비 한마리 왔다고 봄 오겠나”

South Korean Democratic Party Representative Kim Min-seok pledged on the 31st to "speed up" cooperation with the National Progressive Party and other progressive and democratic parties. This statement followed the appointment of opposition Democratic Party Representative Jeong Hak-im to key cabinet posts and the National Progressive Party Representative Lee Dae-jeong within 24 hours of his declaration.

At a plenary session of the National Assembly, Kim expressed his intention to bring "much greater speed" to the discussions on progressive reforms, including political parties and election systems.

Kim clearly expressed his willingness to work with the National Progressive Party, stating that "an overall alliance for progressive reforms is a matter of course," but also emphasized that the final outcome of the alliance remains uncertain. He requested an official channel for communication with the National Progressive Party's 'Unified Action Unit', a unit he established.

Conversely, the National Progressive Party opted for more cautious approach, prioritizing the recovery of mutual trust with the Democratic Party. Senior Party member Park Byung-un stated that while the request made by Kim could be seen as a "new model for cooperation and alliance," it is a "different trajectory" in the context of relations with the Democratic Party.

The Party's secretary said that Kim's demand reflects the need to "relax the conditions for internal party negotiations, immediate passage of the political reform bill, and automatic inclusion in the plenary session."

The outlook remains unclear as tensions between the two parties continue. National Progressive Party insiders suggested that the situation bears resemblance to "picking a single cherry among many," indicating a lack of mutual understanding. They also emphasized that "trust building is the priority," signaling a reluctance to move forward hastily.

Meanwhile, some Democratic Party insiders were critical of Kim's approach, suggesting that his approach could be perceived as an attempt to "exclude National Progressive Party members." They also noted that a clear direction for the alliance or unity would be difficult to establish immediately, particularly with the upcoming local elections on the horizon.