"Proportional Representation Mass Resignation Vote Will Only Deepen Confusion in Justice Party... What Kind of Innovation Is This?"

Moon Young-mi, Jeongui Party Incheon City Committee Chair, Radio Interview
Party Member Recall-Type General Vote Is a Trick

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Concerns have been raised that the upcoming proportional representation members’ mass resignation recommendation party member referendum, starting tomorrow, will only deepen the confusion within the Justice Party. There are also criticisms that using a party member referendum for an issue that should go through a party member recall is a ‘trick’.

On the 30th, Moon Young-mi, Chairperson of the Justice Party Incheon City Committee, appeared on MBC Radio’s “Kim Jong-bae’s Focus” and said about the party member referendum starting tomorrow, “It will only intensify the party’s confusion.”

Chairperson Moon stated, “(If the party member referendum passes) some members might say they will not resign, but if it passes overall, I think they will feel a very heavy sense of responsibility and will not be able to avoid resigning. It will cause significant confusion within the party, and since it is a time when members need to prepare a lot ahead of the National Assembly audit, there will be disruptions. Also, the party officer election to select the party leader is being postponed,” she explained. She added, “At this point, it is a process that inevitably exposes leadership confusion and various problems.”

She criticized the vote as a circumvention of the party member recall. Chairperson Moon said, “There is a party member recall procedure for disciplining public officials,” and “Although the party rules state that party member recall cannot be the subject of a referendum, this referendum is in the form of a recommendation but has a mixed character of a party member recall.” She pointed out, “(Because of this) if proportional representation members of the National Assembly have made mistakes, it should be clearly stated what mistakes they made,” but “the current referendum is very broad and abstract in holding them accountable, which undermines the party member recall rules and makes it difficult to have legitimacy.” When the host asked, “Are you saying this is a trick?” she replied, “Yes.”

According to the Justice Party’s constitution and rules, a referendum is initiated by 5% of party members, requires a 20% turnout, and passes with a majority vote. In contrast, a party member recall requires initiation by 10% of party members, a 50% turnout, and a majority vote to pass, making the requirements stricter. However, a referendum is a recommendation without binding force, whereas a party member recall can result in measures such as removal from party office, resignation recommendation, or expulsion.

Chairperson Moon said, “They say (the mass resignation of proportional representatives) is the start of innovation, but stepping down from leadership is not innovation. If members resign, the next members will succeed them, so it is difficult for the public or party members to see it as a form of innovation.”

Regarding ways to overcome the Justice Party’s crisis, Chairperson Moon said, “I think we need to organize the innovation plans created by the 10-year evaluation committee centered on the emergency committee, elect new leadership to renew the party’s identity, and reorganize the party system.”