Seoul: Eight months after assuming power, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) is experiencing internal turmoil over a proposed merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party. Party leadership meetings have reportedly escalated into heated exchanges, described by some participants as akin to a civil war. Supreme Council member Lee Un-ju, who is associated with the pro-Lee Jae Myung faction, expressed concerns that an early merger would transform Lee Jae Myung's DP into "the party of Jung Chung-rae and Cho Kuk." She further invoked historical references, likening the situation to ancient Rome, suggesting that rebellions by subordinates were common, casting party leader Jung as a potential rebel. This provoked an angry reaction from Moon Jeong-bog, a supporter of Jung, who deemed such comments as "close to an insult" regarding a proposal from the ruling party's leader.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the controversy partly arises from Jung's decision to advocate for the merger without prior consultation with the party leadership. Jung argues that in a closely contested election, even minimal support could be crucial. However, opponents claim the true motive is to secure Jung's reelection at the party convention in August, benefiting from changes to the voting system and support from the Rebuilding Korea Party. Suspicion has reached a level where a Cabinet minister was caught on camera messaging a DP lawmaker during a National Assembly session, urging the disclosure of any secret deals and warning against "dividing the spoils."

The Lee Jae Myung administration, only eight months into its term, is already facing significant challenges, including soaring housing prices in the capital region and higher tariffs imposed by the United States. At a time when the government and ruling party should be focusing on addressing these issues and executing an agenda on livelihoods and reform, the internal infighting over party control is seen as unjustifiable. The merger dispute increasingly appears to be a power struggle, with little substantive debate on policy direction or the demands of the current period. Figures within the ruling camp seem more focused on positioning for control of nominations in the next general election and the broader presidential landscape rather than governance.

Speculation persists regarding whether Prime Minister Kim Min-seok will run in the August convention. During a press briefing on Monday, he emphasized his focus on state affairs, while pointedly remarking that "the era of carving up shares disappeared long ago," in reference to the merger debate. The public perception of a ruling camp divided into pro-Lee and pro-Jung factions is clear. Such conduct, visible so early in a new administration, risks projecting arrogance and rapidly diminishing public expectations. The ruling camp should be acutely aware of the potential consequences for governments that pursue this path.