Ahead of the June local elections, the Justice Party has accepted a proposal from the Democratic Party to establish a 'merger preparation committee'. The two parties have agreed to conduct the local elections under a 'joint electoral' framework without merging, and to shift discussions on unification to after the elections. However, it remains uncertain whether these discussions will proceed smoothly post-elections, especially with less than a month until the August party convention and a growing competition for party leadership positions. During a press conference following a Supreme Council meeting, the Justice Party leader affirmed the party's agreement to form the committee, anticipating that the party's executive committee will ratify this decision shortly.

The Democratic Party had previously noted that the majority of its members feel that immediate unification is unattainable, leading to a resolution that defers any merger discussions until after the local elections while still setting up the preparatory committee beforehand. Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae reiterated the commitment to push for unification after the elections, expressing a desire to use the upcoming challenges as a springboard for victory. Following this, both parties are expected to create collaborative negotiation frameworks to decide on their joint electoral strategies.

While the tumultuous internal conflicts over unification have seemingly settled, the path forward remains fraught with challenges as ambition for party leadership mounts amongst party members, suggesting a potentially contentious atmosphere in the lead-up to the convention. The previously vocal opposition within the Democratic Party against immediate unification has softened, hinting at a desire for unity moving forward, although lingering tensions remain as both parties navigate the complexities of collaboration and leadership aspirations in a politically charged environment.