Democratic Party's 'Delegate System Neutralization' Reform Proposal Rekindles Internal Conflict

Clash Between Pro-Myung and Anti-Myung Forces Amid General Election Dynamics
Innovation Momentum in Doubt, Delegate System Reform Faces Numerous Challenges

The Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party led by Kim Eun-kyung has presented a reform plan that effectively nullifies the delegate system, sparking backlash from the anti-Lee Jae-myung faction and signaling escalating internal party conflicts.

On the 10th, Kim Eun-kyung's Innovation Committee announced a reform plan that essentially abolishes the delegate system and strengthens the rights of party members with voting rights, then left the meeting early.

Kim Eun-kyung, Chair of the Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is announcing the party's innovation plan at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Innovation Committee proposed that in the election of the party leader and supreme council members, 70% of the vote should come from party members with voting rights and 30% from public opinion polls. Currently, according to the party constitution and regulations, the weighting is 40% party members with voting rights, 30% delegates, 25% public opinion polls, and 5% general party members. The new proposal excludes delegates and general party members, increasing the proportion of party members with voting rights. This is seen as effectively neutralizing the delegate system.

The penalty for members of the National Assembly running for a fourth or more consecutive term in the same district, which was considered by the Innovation Committee, was omitted from the reform plan, but Kim Eun-kyung urged their voluntary retirement at a press conference.

At the press conference, Kim said, "Among those who have served multiple terms as members of the National Assembly and held various legislative and party positions, those who are willing to step down for the sake of the next generation, I hope you will boldly come forward for the future of the party."

Kim Eun-kyung, Chair of the Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is announcing the party's innovation plan at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The anti-Lee faction immediately opposed the reform plan. They expressed concerns that the plan, which accepts the demands of the so-called 'Gaeddal'?the strong supporters of the Democratic Party?and increases their influence within the party, could favor the pro-Lee (pro-Lee Jae-myung) faction. Lee Won-wook, a Democratic Party lawmaker classified as anti-Lee, said, "I have no interest in the Innovation Committee's reform plan," adding, "The plan put forward by people who cannot innovate is not something I care about."

Lee said, "There is someone who has served as a local government head twice in a region with four members of the National Assembly and as governor of Gyeonggi Province, managing a budget of 33 trillion won per year as of 2023. Then, this person became the party's presidential candidate and was elected as a member of the National Assembly in a by-election in Incheon, a region with no ties. This person has been elected four times, and that is the current leader Lee Jae-myung."

Quoting Kim Eun-kyung's call for voluntary retirement, Lee demanded that Lee Jae-myung step down. He said, "The top vested interest holder and beneficiary of the party is none other than leader Lee Jae-myung," and added, "We await leader Lee Jae-myung's response."

Concerns Over Abolishing the Delegate System... Will the Democratic Party Accept the Reform Plan?

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a Supreme Council meeting at the party office in the National Assembly on the 7th.

Attention is focused on whether the Democratic Party will accept the reform plan. Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Choi Jae-sung predicted that the reform plan, which effectively proposes abolishing the delegate system, is unlikely to pass, calling it "fueling the fire of conflict."

On the 11th, Choi said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "Political parties are required by the Political Parties Act to adopt a representative democracy system. If the delegate system is abolished, then central committee members and party affairs committees would also have to be abolished or have their election methods changed. The fundamental principles of representative democracy cannot be abandoned."

Seo Young-kyo, a supreme council member of the Democratic Party, agreed with reforming the delegate system but expressed concerns about abolishing it. On MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Seo said, "I think it is worth positively considering reducing the weighting of delegate votes," but added, "The People Power Party has no weighting for delegates, but there is a negative tendency where people like Jeon Kwang-hoon influence the election of supreme council members or party leaders."

The Innovation Committee emphasized, "We have not reduced or abolished the delegate system." Kim Nam-hee, spokesperson for the Innovation Committee, stated on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 11th, responding to claims that the delegate system was effectively abolished, "We did not abolish the delegate system but readjusted the composition and roles of delegates."

Spokesperson Kim explained, "Party members have expressed dissatisfaction that delegates do not represent their views. However, we believe it is important to ensure the representative body functions well. Therefore, the proposed plan includes allowing party members to directly elect a significant portion of delegates through local party general meetings in each region."