The sudden proposal for a merger by the Democratic Party's leader, Jeong Cheong-rae, aimed at solidifying political powers ahead of local elections by forming a 'victory coalition'. However, the plan faced immediate backlash from party leadership who felt excluded from the discussions, leading to heightened tensions and accusations of unilateral decision-making. Jeong's attempts to reassure party members proved ineffective as opposition grew concerning the actual benefits of the merger, particularly with the looming local elections in focus.

Key figures within the party have raised concerns over both procedural legitimacy and the strategic utility of merging with a reformist party, given that it could exacerbate existing internal conflicts and divert focus from necessary local election strategies. The criticism from within was intensified by the rise of political tensions surrounding personal ambitions and electoral prospects ahead of the elections. Notably, members positioned for local leadership roles have begun to leverage the merger debate in favor of their candidacies, taking stances against the merger.

As party factions began to take sides, several members issued statements against the merger, advocating for postponement rather than proceeding immediately. This led to a divided party atmosphere, where even moderate members worried about the implications of a chaotic merger process at such a critical time, severely undermining Jeong's original vision and weakening the party's unified position going into the upcoming elections.