Kang Deok-goo, a top member of the Democratic Party of Korea, ignited considerable debate following his statement on Facebook, which he swiftly removed. His post claimed that the Chief of Strategy and Planning, Hong Ik-pyo, conveyed that President Yoon supports party unification, but acknowledged that achieving this before the local elections would be difficult. He suggested that post-election would be a more suitable time for unification discussions, a view seemingly contrary to current discussions within the party, according to previous statements by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. Observers speculated that Kang's post might have been mistakenly shared, intended for a private communication regarding the President's intentions.

In light of the ensuing controversy, Kang publicly apologized, stating that his remarks were misleading and created misunderstandings. However, doubts arose about the credibility of his assertion that his comments were not accurate. These doubts stemmed from the perception that the essence of the information he shared was closely aligned with the broader narrative presented by the Blue House, particularly concerning ongoing discussions of party consolidation. Former senior secretary Woo Sang-ho underscored that there had been indications from the President regarding a need for eventual unification while criticizing abrupt proposals made by party leader Jung Cheong-rae.

Given these developments, it seems increasingly likely that President Yoon's vision may indeed lean towards unification following the local elections, particularly considering the implications of his call for an integrated party convention as early as August. The timing points towards a potential consolidation of the Democratic Party directly after the June elections, indicating a strategic rather than a purely reactive approach to the ongoing intra-party tensions surrounding unification discussions, especially amid rising dissent from factions within the party opposed to rapid unification efforts.