Rep. Park Ji-won drew a line under rumors that Rep. Lee Jun-seok would join the Democratic Party of Korea. In a YTN Radio interview on August 31, 2026, Park said, in effect, that the Democratic Party would not accept Lee. Park explained that he had become close to Lee through past broadcasting appearances, but also assessed that Lee was not someone who would join the Democratic Party.
Key Change
The key point of Park’s remarks is not that the Democratic Party’s recruitment of Lee has been confirmed, but that Park personally expressed opposition to the membership rumors.
Park Ji-won’s remarks should be distinguished from an official Democratic Party position or recruitment decision.
The full YTN Radio interview is available on the [official YTN Radio page](https://radio.ytn.co.kr/program/?f=2&id=110583&page=&s_hcd=01&s_mcd=0214). The related remarks were also covered by [Maeil Business Newspaper](https://www.mk.co.kr/news/all/12140475).
Current Status
On August 30, Lee Jun-seok announced possible legal action related to the spread of false information by broadcast panelists who circulated rumors that he would join the Democratic Party or that the Reform Party and Democratic Party would merge. Accordingly, no verified basis has been found to conclude that either Lee’s membership or a party merger has been finalized.
The Reform Party said that following Lee Jun-seok’s resignation, floor leader Chun Ha-ram had assumed the role of acting party leader and was proceeding with the process of selecting the next leadership. At a press briefing on August 31, acting leader Chun denied the merger rumors and said that the next leadership would be elected through a national convention in accordance with the party constitution and regulations. Further details are available in the [Reform Party’s official briefing](https://reformparty.kr/news/press/205766-%EC%B2%9C%ED%95%98%EB%9E%8C-%EB%8B%B9%EB%8C%80%ED%91%9C-%EA%B6%8C%ED%95%9C%EB%8C%80%ED%96%89-%EA%B8%B0%EC%9E%90%EA%B0%84%EB%8B%B4%ED%9A%8C-%EB%B0%B1%EB%B8%8C%EB%A6%AC%ED%95%912026%EB%85%84-8%EC%9B%94-31%EC%9D%BC).
Implications
Three political implications are currently confirmed.
- Park Ji-won expressed a negative personal view of Lee Jun-seok joining the Democratic Party.
- Lee Jun-seok considers the membership and merger rumors false information and announced possible legal action.
- The Reform Party is distancing itself from the merger rumors and proceeding with the process of selecting its next leadership.
Park’s remarks alone cannot be taken as confirmation of an official Democratic Party recruitment decision or party position. Likewise, Lee Jun-seok’s membership and a merger between the parties have not been confirmed.
What to Watch Next
Going forward, it will be necessary to check whether the Democratic Party leadership actually issues an official announcement, whether the legal action Lee Jun-seok announced proceeds, and how the Reform Party’s national convention and next leadership election develop. As of now, the most accurate approach is to consider separately Park Ji-won’s interview remarks, Lee Jun-seok’s response, and the official position of acting leader Chun Ha-ram.
Verification time: approximately 11:25–11:29 a.m. on August 31, 2026. Related materials include [YTN Radio](https://radio.ytn.co.kr/program/?f=2&id=110583&page=&s_hcd=01&s_mcd=0214), [Korea Economic Daily](https://www.hankyung.com/article/2026083021407), [official Reform Party materials](https://reformparty.kr/news/press/205766-%EC%B2%9C%ED%95%98%EB%9E%8C-%EB%8B%B9%EB%8C%80%ED%91%9C-%EA%B6%8C%ED%95%9C%EB%8C%80%ED%96%89-%EA%B8%B0%EC%9E%90%EA%B0%84%EB%8B%B4%ED%9A%8C-%EB%B0%B1%EB%B8%8C%EB%A6%AC%ED%95%912026%EB%85%84-8%EC%9B%94-31%EC%일), and [ChosunBiz](https://biz.chosun.com/policy/politics/assembly/2026/08/31/XFHPVQ7FOZAMRPACPOYQ6IHZIQ/?outputType=amp).