South Korean political leaders call for party unification ahead of 2028 elections

South Korean political figures are calling for strategic party shifts and unification to prepare for the 2028 general elections.

Choi Min-hee, a supreme council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized that merging with the Rebuilding Korea Party is essential for victory. She warned that failing to unify could result in the loss of approximately 40 seats in the Seoul metropolitan area, as competing candidates would split the progressive vote.

On the conservative side, former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min criticized the current leadership of the People Power Party. Yoo argued that the party must move away from a focus on hardcore party members and instead pursue a 'big unification' that includes figures like Han Dong-hoon and Lee Jun-seok. He warned that the current direction risks alienating moderate voters and could lead to defeat in the upcoming elections.