South Korean political party unification efforts

South Korean political leaders from both major parties are calling for strategic unification and reform to prepare for the 2028 general elections.

On the conservative side, former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min has urged his party to pursue “integration and innovation.” He warned that internal conflicts regarding the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol and a narrow focus on hardcore members could alienate moderate, metropolitan, and youth voters. Yoo argued that the party must achieve a “big unification” involving figures such as Han Dong-hoon and Lee Jun-seok to reclaim a majority in the National Assembly.

Simultaneously, progressive leaders are discussing similar consolidation efforts. Choi Min-hee, a supreme council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated that merging with the Rebuilding Korea Party is essential to prevent splitting the progressive vote, which she warned could result in the loss of approximately 40 seats in the Seoul metropolitan area.