Ruling Party Urges Opposition to Restore Bipartisan Cooperation, Criticizes New Leader

South Korea's ruling People Power Party has called on the main opposition Democratic Party to prioritize the restoration of bipartisan cooperation, urging its newly elected leader, Kim Min-seok, to move away from confrontational politics. The party's senior spokesperson, Park Seong-hoon, stated that the Democratic Party should demonstrate the image of a "responsible ruling party" rather than a "strong ruling party."

Park criticized the recent party convention, which saw the consolidation of power around President Lee Jae-myung's allies, creating what he termed a "unipolar system" where the ruling party and the president operate as one. He specifically targeted Kim Min-seok's proposal to abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights, labeling it an attempt to act as an "Lee Jae-myung avatar" shielding the president from legal scrutiny. Park emphasized that the ruling party should not become a "shield" for the president's legal risks.

The People Power Party stressed that the leader of the ruling party holds the crucial responsibility of finding solutions through dialogue and compromise with the opposition. They reminded Kim that their duty is to protect the public, the constitution, and the nation's future. While extending an offer for cooperation on matters of public welfare and national interest, the party also issued a warning against any actions that undermine democracy and the rule of law.

Another party spokesperson, Choi Eun-seok, echoed these sentiments, urging the Democratic Party to change its approach. He advised against prioritizing discussions on presidential term extension or manipulating laws to halt or eliminate trials involving the president. Choi implored Kim to be a leader who can offer critical feedback on government policies, rather than solely defending the president, and to return to a political style that involves dialogue and compromise with the opposition. Both spokespersons highlighted the urgent need to focus on economic and livelihood issues and to revive inter-party cooperation.