Cho Kuk, director of the Innovation Policy Institute of the Rebuilding Korea Party, stated that an official apology for attacks targeting his party and himself from some members of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is a prerequisite for any merger discussions.

Appearing on the YouTube broadcast "Kim Ou-joon's News Factory" today (the 7th), Director Cho said, "The issue of a merger requires restoring trust between the two parties or their supporters first."

Cho emphasized, "They must apologize for launching ideological attacks by branding the Innovation Policy Institute's policies, such as the public ownership of land, as 'socialist policies,' and for the lies about a secret pact between Cho Kuk and former leader Jung Chung-rae," adding, "This must be done as a basic condition (for merger discussions)."

Regarding the internal committee established by the DPK leadership for merger discussions, he said, "Simply creating a committee within the party does not bring about a merger," and warned, "If they rush a merger through a committee without taking measures (to restore trust), it will only project a bad image to party members and the public as a turf war between the two parties."

Regarding the recent decline in approval ratings for President Lee Jae-myung, he criticized, "To achieve the goal of expanding toward the political center, is it right to divide the traditional progressive base or make a specific internal group an enemy?" He added, "Ultimately, the people who helped create the Lee Jae-myung administration split apart, while those who approached from the right drifted away, resulting in losing both sides."

When asked whether President Lee should directly state his position on this matter, he responded, "That would be the most appropriate approach," and added, "If he sincerely says, 'We tried to push forward with certain points like this, some things were done well, and others seem to have been mistakes,' people's hearts will turn back."

Regarding the dismissal of the indictment in President Lee's case, he argued, "Once a special counsel act is enacted regarding the prosecution's fabricated investigations, the fabrication will be confirmed through the special counsel." He added, "Once the fabricated indictment is practically confirmed and those prosecutors are indicted, that alone will open the path for the dismissal of the indictment."

"There are many strange people trying to portray me as someone who hopes for President Lee's guilty verdict and attacking me," he noted, adding, "I wonder if it's intentional reading comprehension failure."

(Photo: Yonhap News)