Discussions for a merger between the Minjoo Party led by Jeong Cheong-rae and the Justice Party have fallen through, significantly impacting Jeong's aspirations for reelection. Jeong was banking on a victorious local election to solidify his position. The leadership portrayed by Jeong is characterized by a strong drive and determination to mobilize all political resources in pursuit of self-set goals. However, his approach has faced criticism for lacking procedural legitimacy, particularly after announcing the merger proposal just 20 minutes before informing his highest-ranking officials.

The fallout from the merger's failure has illuminated Jeong's challenges within the party, with experts pointing to his 'solo' leadership style that relies on social media engagement instead of fostering internal communication and consensus. This inadequacy has led to a build-up of dissatisfaction among party members, which has now emerged in criticism of his leadership. Furthermore, the failure to adequately vet nominations for the special prosecutor candidates has compounded his troubles, reflecting a broader issue in his fast-paced decision-making that bypasses necessary internal checks.

Tensions between Jeong and the Blue House have also persisted amidst the merger failure and subsequent legislative discussions. Recently, Jeong's alignment with President Yoon's emphasis on the necessity of additional investigative powers was compromised by a party decision that favored only recommending limited powers for prosecutors. As a result, Jeong has taken steps to re-establish communication with the administration despite prior discontent. Experts suggest that the complications arising from these dynamics will need deft handling moving forward to restore internal party unity and external governmental relations.