"Dismissed as Internal Criticism"... Yang So-young's 'Deliberate Remarks' in Front of Lee Jae-myung

Lee: "Democracy is a Given"
"Report Text Bombs to Party Organization"
Jung Cheong-rae Opposes "Abolish Delegate System" Proposal

After voicing calls for 'party innovation,' Yang So-young, Chairperson of the Democratic Party's National University Student Committee, who has been under attack from hardline supporters, made a resolute statement at a public meeting attended by party leader Lee Jae-myung on the 9th. She said, "The voice raised by the National University Student Committee has been disparaged as internal betrayal." While Lee acknowledged this as "a natural statement," he remained reserved regarding the innovation measures proposed by Chairperson Yang.

During the party's expanded executive meeting that morning, Yang opened her remarks by criticizing lawmaker Kim Nam-guk's cryptocurrency speculation and revealed that becoming a target of hardline supporters was "a moment when I directly experienced the disappearance of democracy within the party." She pointed out, "To protect their own side, even wrongdoings are disguised as justice. Even if one speaks rightly, if they are not on our side, they are deemed wrong," adding, "Currently, the Democratic Party does not accept differing opinions."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the expanded executive meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Earlier, on the 12th, the Democratic Party's National University Student Committee and the university student committees of 17 city and provincial parties held a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "Lawmaker Kim, who volunteered as a youth politician, made an all-in investment in cryptocurrency, which caused many young people to feel a sense of deprivation," and "Youth politics, stained by poverty framing and double standards, must be restored." Following this, attendees received a barrage of text messages from hardline supporters, and a petition demanding the dismissal of the university student committee chairs was posted on the Democratic Party's petition board.

The meeting was attended by party leader Lee, other party leadership members, lawmakers, and national committee chairs. As Chairperson Yang continued her criticism of the party leadership without hesitation, the expressions of those present grew tense.

Regarding the 'abolition of the delegate system,' which is being demanded mainly by hardline supporters, Yang criticized, "Although it is shouted as innovation, it seems to be mired in a power struggle before the parliamentary elections," and added, "The abolition of the delegate system, which is not a matter of public interest, should not become a major agenda of the innovation committee." She then urged the leadership, "Please make efforts to firmly stop actions that damage diversity and drive division within the party."

She emphasized the newly formed innovation committee's most important mission as "restoring democracy within the party," and stressed, "More diverse members should be able to participate in the innovation committee." Yang added, "Those who disparage colleagues by calling them 'watermelon' should be excluded from the innovation committee," and "We must break free from a party swayed by specific voices and transform into a party that meets the public's expectations."

After the meeting, Lee told reporters, "It is a very natural statement that we must restore democracy within the party, as Chairperson Yang said," and added, "Since diversity is the essence of a political party, it is very natural for each person to express their opinions legitimately and for others to respond with counterarguments."

He continued, "There is an organization that investigates excessive expressions such as text message bombings or verbal abuse within the party and takes appropriate measures," and said, "If such excessive expressions or problems are reported to the party, appropriate actions will be taken. There have already been cases of expulsion, so I hope you take that into consideration," implying no active intention to respond further. When asked whether he would accept Chairperson Yang's proposals, he declined to answer.

Meanwhile, at the earlier remarks that day, Supreme Council Member Jeong Cheong-rae actively defended the call for 'abolishing the delegate system,' expressing a stance opposing Chairperson Yang. Quoting the spirit of the June Democratic Uprising, Jeong said, "Let's also elect the Democratic Party leader with our own hands." He emphasized, "In the Democratic Party leader election, one vote per leader, one vote per lawmaker, one vote per delegate, and one vote per party member?let's uphold the basic common sense of equal direct democracy," and urged, "Let's abolish the delegate system."