South Korean Local Councils See Rise of 'Non-Democratic Alliances'

A new political alliance, dubbed the "non-democratic alliance," is emerging in local councils across South Korea's South Jeolla province, bringing together elected officials from the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, the Progressive Party, and independents.

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This launch is not a mere political union, but a shared promise to strengthen the council's checks and balances and realize policy-centered cooperation.

In Yeosu City Council, four Innovation Party members and one independent officially formed the parliamentary group 'Citizen Sovereignty Alliance' on May 23. This marks the first time a parliamentary group has been established in the 26-member Yeosu council through an alliance of non-Democratic Party and independent lawmakers. The group's formation adheres to the city council's ordinance, which allows parties with five or more members to form a group, or unaffiliated lawmakers to form their own if they meet the five-member threshold.

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We will fulfill our role of monitoring and presenting policy alternatives for Yeosu's major issues and large-scale projects to ensure public funds are not wasted.

During a press conference at the Yeosu City Council, the 'Citizen Sovereignty Alliance' stated their formation was "not a mere political union" but a "shared promise to strengthen the council's checks and balances and realize policy-centered cooperation." They pledged to diligently monitor and provide policy alternatives for Yeosu's major issues and large-scale projects, ensuring public funds are not wasted.

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The Democratic Party did not cooperate with the ordinance's passage, saying it should be passed by the newly formed city council. We will reintroduce and pass the ordinance in the new council.

The spotlight now turns to Suncheon City Council, where a similar "non-Democratic Party" parliamentary group could be formed. The recent election saw two Innovation Party members, two Progressive Party members, and two independents elected to the 22-member council. However, they face an immediate hurdle: the Suncheon City Council did not table a proposed ordinance on the formation and operation of parliamentary groups during its last plenary session on May 16. Choi Mi-hee, an elected Progressive Party official who proposed the ordinance, stated that the Democratic Party did not cooperate with its passage, and they plan to reintroduce and pass it in the newly formed council. Once the ordinance is enacted, they intend to pursue the formation of a parliamentary group with the Innovation Party and independent members.

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Once the ordinance is passed, we will pursue the formation of a parliamentary group with the Innovation Party and independent members.