The discussion of a potential election alliance between the ruling Democratic Party and the Justice Party is gaining traction as both parties prepare for the upcoming local elections in South Korea. Justice Party leader Jo Kook expressed his agreement with the formation of a preparatory committee for the 'alliance and integration' proposed by the Democratic Party. With competitive districts in the metropolitan area and regions like Busan and Gyeongnam, many analysts believe that an election alliance is inevitable. However, there are worries as there is no historical precedent for electoral cooperation that is based on a pre-merger agreement, leading to skepticism about the potential outcomes and effectiveness of the alliance.

As the discussions between the two parties progress, Jo emphasized the need to clarify whether the proposed alliance is genuinely aimed at local elections or merely an abstract political slogan. He suggested that if the alliance is indeed about local elections, the preparatory committee should establish the principles and methods for collaborating. Democratic Party representatives, including a lawmaker on KBS Radio, also commented on the possibility of significant collaboration, drawing from past experiences where they engaged in strategic alliances, such as with the Progressive Party during the last parliamentary elections.

However, some voices in the political arena have pointed out that the context of today's situation differs markedly from 2012, when the Democratic Party engaged in substantial compromises to form a coalition ahead of key elections aimed at regime change. In the present scenario, with the current administration's first year underway, the dynamics around forming coalitions have shifted, raising questions about the motivations and feasibility of the proposed electoral alliances between the Democratic Party and the Justice Party.