Jongmin Kim's 1,000-Won Party Membership Controversy Emerges Two Months Ago
Lee Jae-myung's Upcoming Prosecutor Summons
Democratic Party's Factional Group "The Path of Democracy" Launches on the 31st
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Amid suspicions surrounding the development of Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town, and with the scheduled prosecution summons of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 28th, controversy over the ‘1,000-won party member’ has erupted. The ‘1,000-won party member’ refers to party members who pay the minimum party fee of 1,000 won, which grants voting rights within the Democratic Party. Recently, voices have emerged calling for disciplinary action against party insiders who disparage these 1,000-won members, leading to interpretations that this is a move to check the ‘Bi-myeong (non-Lee Jae-myung) faction.’
According to the opposition on the 25th, a petition titled "Discipline the lawmakers who disparaged the 1,000-won party members" was recently posted on the ‘petition board’ operated by the Democratic Party. The lawmakers named are Kim Jong-min, Lee Won-wook, and Cho Eung-cheon.
The controversy over the 1,000-won party members began at the ‘Reflection and Innovation’ forum held last November. At that event, Representative Kim mentioned concerns about the regulations on party members’ rights, stating, "If the party member standard is set at 1,000 won, it is necessary to consider why this confers a superior status compared to general supporters or the public, as the distinction is not clear."
Petitioners and others interpret this remark as disparaging the ‘1,000-won party members.’ Currently, the Democratic Party requires party members to pay a minimum monthly fee of 1,000 won to hold voting rights. The comment is seen as targeting members who meet only this minimum requirement.
Regarding this, Representative Kim rebutted via social media the day before, saying, "I did not disparage party members. Rather, I argued that the valuable participation of members who voluntarily pay the 1,000-won fee should not be misunderstood as mobilized members but should be properly recognized as genuine rights-holding members." He added, "Someone is deliberately taking my remarks from two months ago out of context, distorting and spreading them."
In fact, Representative Kim has consistently emphasized the role of party members. In an interview summarizing the ‘Reflection and Innovation’ forum last December, he stated, "It is naturally a good and correct direction for the participation of the general public and party members to be activated," and added, "Our party’s biggest concern is how to channel this participatory energy more healthily and effectively." His focus was on how party members influenced by hardline YouTubers and others can express their voices and engage in discussions.
There are also opinions that the controversy over Representative Kim’s alleged disparagement of the ‘1,000-won party members’ is intertwined with internal party dynamics. The fact that remarks made two months ago, already reported, are now causing renewed controversy raises suspicions of intentional motives. A second-term Democratic Party lawmaker said, "This is an attempt to block the upcoming launch of ‘The Path of the Democratic Party’ scheduled for the 31st."
Some Democratic Party lawmakers, including Kim, held ‘Reflection and Innovation’ forums after the defeats in the last presidential and local elections. These forums, which continued through a second season, are now proceeding under the name ‘The Path of the Democratic Party.’ Since their inception, the reflection meetings have been referred to as anti-Myung (anti-Lee Jae-myung) and Bi-myeong (non-Lee Jae-myung) groups. Originally held as open meetings, this forum will be conducted as a closed discussion this time. The heightened interest in ‘The Path of the Democratic Party’ is not unrelated to the intensifying controversies surrounding Lee Jae-myung. With Lee, who has already undergone one prosecution summons, being summoned again on the 28th, there is a widespread expectation within the party that indictment of the party leader is an inevitable event.
Democratic Party Supreme Council member Ko Min-jung mentioned in an interview on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ that the internal atmosphere is moving sensitively amid judicial risks. Ko said, "Party members are currently very sensitive to excessive and distorted media coverage." She added, "Not only opposition party leaders but also former President Moon Jae-in are in situations where supporters are very sensitive, so even a small spark can easily escalate into a big fire." She explained, "The reason we keep urging unity is because this sensitivity still remains alive."
Assembly member Gam said regarding this controversy, "Violent acts within the party and refusal to allow differing opinions should never happen in a democratic party," and added, "Only by coexisting with diverse opinions and engaging in discussions can we find the right direction." On the 1,000-won party member controversy, he said, "Political attacks that are not true and not factual do not last long," and added, "The public is wise."
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