The Democratic Party of Korea (DP) is facing a state of psychological internal conflict, highlighted by recent tensions between pro and anti-party members following their merger with the Justice Party and the nomination of a special prosecutor candidate. The DP's factional disputes were temporarily soothed before the Lunar New Year, mainly due to the insistence of party leader Jeong Cheong-rae who had previously pushed for the merger against significant pushback from party members. Despite these temporary resolutions, concerns linger that conflicts will persist due to deeper, multifaceted issues within the ruling party.

Factors contributing to the ongoing discord include a power struggle between President Lee Jae-myung and party leader Jeong Cheong-rae, interpreted by some as a classic contest for dominance within the party. Jeong's ambition to secure the party leadership after the scheduled national convention in August is seen as a driving force behind some of the recent tensions. With the upcoming local elections in June seen as a critical stepping stone for the party's future, members are jockeying for position, leading to heightened stakes around candidate nominations, which politicians view as essential for their political survival.

Moreover, Jeong Cheong-rae’s leadership has come under scrutiny, primarily due to his perceived failure to consolidate support among party members. Despite winning the leadership election last August decisively, Jeong has struggled to win over many lawmakers within his own party. This ongoing leadership crisis seems to be a self-created problem, with murmurs of dissatisfaction among party members about Jeong’s capability to lead effectively. Looking ahead, these internal rifts could have substantial implications for the party’s performance in future elections and its overall stability as it approaches significant electoral contests over the next few years.