[Opinion] “Democracy Is Not ‘Picking’ but ‘Cooperation’ and ‘Compromise’”

Im Hanpil, Chief Representative of Gwangsan Citizens' Solidarity

Amid unprecedented internal controversies over nominations within the Democratic Party, the 6.1 local elections have concluded, confirming 18 members of the Gwangsan District Council. On the 5th, the 9th Gwangsan District Council was organized through the election of the chairperson and vice-chairperson. In the 8th council, there were 17 members, but due to electoral district adjustments, Gwangsan gained one additional seat.

Among them, 14 seats were won by the Democratic Party, 3 by the Progressive Party, and 1 by the Justice Party. The increase of minority party seats to 4 compared to the 8th council is considered significant for checking and monitoring the Democratic Party-affiliated Gwangsan District Mayor.

There are also several promising aspects to look forward to in the 9th Gwangsan District Council. While most members in the 8th council were first-term councilors, the 9th council has a balanced distribution of experience with one four-term member, one three-term member, six second-term members, and ten first-term members, which is expected to aid proficient council operations. Additionally, the emergence of young councilors in their 20s and 30s, including women in their 20s and men in their 30s, is noteworthy.

Nevertheless, the recent process of selecting the chairperson candidate within the Democratic Party for the Gwangsan District Council raises doubts about whether the party truly upholds democratic principles.

It is said that the Democratic Party failed to reach an agreement on the candidate for three days to register for the chairperson election. There was a reason for this. Coincidentally, seven councilors each from Gwangsan Gap and Gwangsan Eul constituencies were elected, resulting in a tie in votes.

Of course, due to electoral district adjustments, there are two proportional representatives, seven members from Gwangsan Gap, and nine from Gwangsan Eul. If the contest was between Gap and Eul, Eul would have the advantage. However, with three minority party councilors elected in Eul during the local elections, the number of Democratic Party councilors from Eul decreased, resulting in a tie.

This time, two candidates from Gap and one from Eul were mentioned for the chairperson candidacy, but it was consolidated to one candidate from Gap, resulting in one candidate each from Gap and Eul. Ultimately, it is said that the decision was made by “drawing lots” on the proposal of Song Gap-seok, the city party committee chair.

Observing this situation, the controversial process of selecting the Democratic Party chairperson candidate for the 8th Gwangsan District Council two years ago came to mind. At that time, the division was not between Gap and Eul but was based on whether to support a certain member of the National Assembly in the general election held a few months earlier. The candidate supported by that member and the opposing candidate tied, and the older candidate was selected, resulting in the candidate supported by that member not being elected.

However, unable to accept this result, there was an attempt to create an atmosphere demanding a re-vote under the “absurd logic” that unity was needed to support a specific candidate. A civic group leader who raised the issue through columns and press conferences, emphasizing that whoever was elected through democratic procedures should be accepted, was expelled from the Democratic Party, their affiliated party.

Of course, all seven councilors who voted for the opposing candidate were suspended from party membership for three months. None of those councilors received Democratic Party nominations in this local election.

This time, to avoid such disgraceful situations and to prevent direct confrontations between Gap and Eul within the party, the Democratic Party city committee chair chose “drawing lots” as a wise “solo solution.” Of course, in ancient Greek democracy, public officials were selected by “lottery.”

However, South Korea adopted American-style democracy, which is based on elections, a method inherited from the Roman Republic where tribunes were elected through voting, making elections the foundation of democratic governance.

Within the Democratic Party, the fact that councilors and members of the National Assembly from Gwangsan Gap and Eul cannot reach results through “cooperation,” “compromise,” or “elections,” and must resort to “drawing lots” as their own “democratic method” is truly concerning. Over the next four years, they must check and monitor the Gwangsan District Office, led by a mayor from the same party, propose ordinances, and conduct inquiries into district administration for the residents of Gwangsan.

In resolving numerous local issues and overcoming differences and conflicts among councilors, it is hoped that the 9th Gwangsan District Council members will demonstrate a mature democratic attitude by fostering “cooperation” and “compromise” rather than relying on “drawing lots.”