Jo Guk's Party Suffers Major Defeat in By-Elections, Merger Prospects Dim

The recent June 3rd elections delivered a significant blow to Jo Guk and his New Reform Party, with Jo himself losing the by-election for the Pyeongtaek B parliamentary seat. Despite pouring party resources into the race, Jo secured only third place, a stark contrast to his campaign's primary objective: achieving "zero seats for the ruling party." The party's performance in local government elections also fell short of expectations, particularly in the Honam region, where they had aimed to expand their influence.

In the Pyeongtaek B by-election, Jo Guk garnered 27.2% of the vote, trailing behind Kim Yong-nam of the Democratic Party (28.8%) and ultimately losing to Yoo Eui-dong of the People Power Party (34.8%). Jo acknowledged his defeat early on June 4th, stating, "The top priority of the June elections was the realization of 'People Power Party zero.' In Pyeongtaek, we could not fulfill that command. It is all my inadequacy and my responsibility."

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The top priority of the June elections was the realization of 'People Power Party zero.' In Pyeongtaek, we could not fulfill that command. It is all my inadequacy and my responsibility.

The New Reform Party's performance in local elections was also disappointing. While they had hoped to win around five local government leadership positions in the Honam region, they only managed to secure victories in two areas: Shinan County Mayor and Jangheung County Mayor. They even lost the incumbent Damyang County Mayor seat to the Democratic Party, further underscoring the party's struggles.

Jo Guk's electoral defeat has cast a shadow over the potential merger talks with the Democratic Party. The discussions, which were seen as a way for the New Reform Party to solidify its political base and grow its influence leading up to the 2028 general elections, now face an uncertain future. The already strained relationship between the two parties, exacerbated by contentious debates during the election campaign, makes any merger significantly more complex. The path forward for the New Reform Party's 12 proportional representatives also appears more challenging following this electoral setback.

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We could only win in two places in the local government head elections in the Honam region.