[Key Points] Ruling party resets opposition ties, eyes liberal alliance

Reconciliation push: Democratic Party chair Kim Min-seok called for frequent, informal talks with People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, signaling a softer approach than his predecessor.

Tone shift: Kim praised Jang for sharing the goal of ending former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law, contrasting former party chief Jung Chung-rae’s refusal to engage conservatives he linked to “insurrectionist forces.”

Disputes persist: Despite conciliatory rhetoric, Kim and Jang clashed over Supreme Court justice nominations and the ruling bloc’s proposed 100 trillion won state-led fund financed by chip-sector windfalls.

Legal tensions linger: People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook sued Kim for criminal insult after he called her a “female Hitler” over her stance on the Gwangju Democratic Uprising.

Liberal alliance eyed: Kim also moved to revive cooperation with the Rebuilding Korea Party, potentially including a merger, but the minor party said rebuilding trust must come first after earlier merger talks collapsed.