Chung Dong-young Proposes Merger With Democratic Party

United New Democratic Party (UNDP) presidential candidate Chung Dong-young made a proposal to the Democratic Party to merge with his party yesterday.

Accordingly, discussions for merging the two parties, which were going on unofficially, are expected to gain momentum.

Chung said in a press conference at UNDP headquarters in Seoul yesterday, “I officially asked the Democratic Party to discuss merging with our party and fielding a single presidential candidate. By merger, I don’t mean the acquisition of one party by the other, but an integration of the two parties.”

In response, Democratic Party spokesperson Yoo Jong-pil said in a briefing that day, “We can announce a merger and single candidate only after reaching a clear agreement on fundamental matters beyond the discussion of integration.”

mindy@donga.com