Hong Young-pyo: "The ruling party leadership should be elected at the party convention... High possibility of 'dividing the spoils' controversy"

Hong Young-pyo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo at the National Assembly's National Defense Committee audit held at the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 2nd. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] Hong Young-pyo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea considered a frontrunner for the party leadership, argued on the 10th that the Supreme Council members should be elected through the party convention rather than the Central Committee. The ruling party's top leadership is currently collectively vacant following the total resignation of the leadership after the April 7 by-election defeat.

On Facebook that day, Rep. Hong stated, "If the Supreme Council members are elected by the Central Committee, there is a high possibility of controversies over 'dividing up' among proxies of presidential and party leadership candidates. This will remain a source of conflict for a long time."

He added, "Forming the top leadership through the party convention is not a simple power struggle," and explained, "(It is) a process where collective intelligence operates to determine what to keep and discard together with party members and to unify consensus on the new direction the party should take." He emphasized, "As a result, a legitimate leadership is established."

Rep. Hong explained, "According to the current party constitution and regulations, the Central Committee elects Supreme Council members in case of vacancies," but added, "It is reasonable to see this as intended for one or two vacancies, not for a collective vacancy situation like now." He further stated, "At this party convention, not only the party leader but also the Supreme Council members should be elected," and added, "Only then can a leadership that properly embodies legitimacy, representativeness, and democracy be established."

Earlier, the Democratic Party decided to elect the vacant Supreme Council members through the Central Committee according to the party constitution and regulations following the total resignation of the leadership. However, voices of opposition have also been rising within the party. Representatives Park Jumin and Lee Jae-jung expressed such opinions through social networking services (SNS).