Kang Byung-won, on the Proposal to 'Give Up Party Leader Nomination,' Says "Lee Jae-myung, Please Clarify Your Position"

"The core is not for the party leader to arbitrarily decide nominations but to lead integration"
"This is not a proposal targeting a specific individual"
"Many lawmakers worry about the party leader's nomination authority abuse... Lee Jae-myung must respond if he is a responsible leader"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Kang Byung-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea running for party leader in the upcoming August party convention, said to Lee Jae-myung, a leading candidate for party leadership, regarding his proposal yesterday to 'give up the party leader's nomination rights,' "If you are going to announce your candidacy soon, I would appreciate it if you could definitely clarify your position on my opinion."

Kang Byung-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is answering reporters' questions after finishing his press conference for the party leader candidacy at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Kang appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon' and said, "(The core of giving up the party leader's nomination rights) is that the Democratic Party should not be one where the party leader can arbitrarily decide nominations, but a Democratic Party that leads through unity."

Yesterday, Kang held a press conference at the National Assembly to announce the 'Democratic Party Innovation Blueprint' and proposed to other party leadership candidates a 'meeting and joint declaration to relinquish the party leader's nomination rights.' He explained that the current system, where the central party's candidate recommendation committee members are appointed by the party leader, should be changed so that they are approved by the party's Central Committee, to end 'factional nominations and lining-up nominations.'

Kang pointed out, "Every party convention repeats factional conflicts and lining-up patterns because there is a real fear within the party that certain individuals and factions will control the nominations."

He added, "I proposed this meeting and joint declaration not only to the party leader candidates but also to Lee Jae-myung, who has not yet declared his candidacy. If you share these values of unity, I believe you will join us, and if you are going to announce your candidacy soon, I would appreciate it if you could definitely clarify your position on my opinion."

In response to the host's question, "If the Central Committee approves the nominations, won't factional nominations continue to be an issue?" Kang replied, "Which is more likely to be misunderstood as factional?one party leader appointing the nomination review committee members or 400 Central Committee members appointing them? Especially since the Central Committee members are composed of members of the National Assembly and metropolitan and local government heads directly elected by the people, it is structurally impossible for a specific faction to monopolize."

He continued, "Because the nomination can be heavily influenced depending on who the party leader is, there is constant anxiety about this. If entrusted to the 400 Central Committee members, it can fundamentally block the party leader's arbitrary power, and by doing so, factional nominations will disappear."

Regarding the view that this might be a step to weaken Lee Jae-myung if he becomes party leader amid the atmosphere of 'Eodaemyeong (Anyway, the leader will be Lee Jae-myung),' Kang said, "This proposal was made commonly to all candidates rather than targeting a specific individual," emphasizing that it is the result of long-standing party innovation deliberations.

He said, "Yesterday, lawmaker Go Mong-jeong also declared her candidacy, saying 'The era of one hero saving the world is over.' I believe that nominations made through discussions and deliberations among many Central Committee members are more appropriate than unilateral nominations," and urged Lee, "Many fellow lawmakers are concerned about one party leader arbitrarily exercising nomination rights. As a responsible leader, I hope you will definitely respond."