[Exclusive] Democratic Party to Hold First 'Full Committee Meeting' on Election System Reform on 16th... Political Reform Special Committee Drafts Resolution

Political Innovation Committee to Hold Full Membership Meetings on 16th and 23rd
All Members Attend 'Electoral System Reform' Discussion
Draft Resolution to Be Prepared This Month After Gathering Opinions

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea will hold a plenary committee meeting (Jeonwonwi) on the 16th, where all party members will participate in a free discussion on political reform. This is the first political reform forum involving all Democratic Party members since President Yoon Seok-yeol and National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo began discussions on electoral district reform earlier this year. The Democratic Party plans to hold two internal plenary committee meetings in February to gather opinions within the party and convey them to the Political Reform Special Committee (Jeonggae Teukwi).

Interview_Kim Young-bae, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 13th, Kim Young-bae, former Democratic Party co-secretary of the National Assembly Political Reform Special Committee and advisory member of the party’s Political Innovation Committee, said in an interview with Asia Economy, "After discussions at the Political Reform Special Committee subcommittee meetings on the 14th and 15th, we will draft a resolution proposal to be submitted to the National Assembly plenary committee on the 16th." He explained that the full Political Reform Special Committee meeting would be held by the end of February at the latest to submit a resolution reflecting the party’s political reform direction to the National Assembly plenary committee.

Kim said, "The variable is the internal movements within each political party," adding, "The Democratic Party has decided to hold plenary meetings of all Democratic Party lawmakers for two consecutive weeks on the 16th and 23rd, organized by the Political Innovation Committee."

He described it as a "Democratic Party version of the plenary committee," emphasizing, "Since this is not a general assembly led by the party leadership but a meeting hosted by the Political Innovation Committee, a freer and more open discussion is expected." He added, "In fact, this is the first time all lawmakers will discuss electoral system reform together."

At this meeting, free discussions among Democratic Party lawmakers regarding electoral system reform are expected to continue. If a majority consensus is confirmed through sufficient opinion gathering, it may be consolidated within the party and established as the party’s official stance at a general assembly led by the floor leader.

Kim said, "If the timeline to establish the party’s official stance seems too tight, adjustments will be made based on the plenary committee results." He added, "The People Power Party will need more preparation time due to its party convention on March 8, but the Democratic Party plans to complete basic preparations within February and expects some progress by the end of the month." Previously, Speaker Kim stated at a New Year press conference on January 11 that if the Political Reform Special Committee produces multiple proposals by the end of February, they will be submitted to the National Assembly plenary committee, where all 300 lawmakers will participate in the discussion.