The Democratic Party Faces Responsibility Debate Amid Mass Resignation of Duty Officers... Should the Leader Step Down or Prioritize Unity Over Division?

After the People Power Party lost the by-election for the mayor of Gangseo District, Seoul, appointed party officials including the Secretary-General resigned en masse, but on the 15th, debates over responsibility continued within the party. Opinions were divided over the collective resignation of appointed officials, with some arguing that "the party leader should step down," while others countered that "unity is needed rather than division."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Assemblyman Seo Byung-soo asked on Facebook, "I ask Representative Kim Ki-hyun," saying, "Do you have the determination to convey the voice of the people ahead, rather than just looking at the Presidential Office? When the government is out of touch with public sentiment, do you have the resolve to correct it more firmly than the opposition party?" He directly criticized Representative Kim, saying, "If you do not have that resolve, step down. The position of ruling party leader is too much for you to handle."

He continued, "Whether to trust or distrust Representative Kim depends on every word spoken and every action shown from now on," emphasizing, "Start by fulfilling the promise to create a People Power Party like Yeonpotang."

Assemblyman Choi Jae-hyung wrote on Facebook, "The resignation of appointed party officials does not meet the public's expectations," adding, "We must not think of the poison given by the people as a tonic or fatigue recovery medicine. We must die to live."

There were also rebuttals stating that "shaking the party without alternatives is not acceptable." Youth Supreme Council Member Jang Ye-chan responded on Facebook, "Provoking conflict between the party and government is not reform. The public and party members will judge coldly whether this is an attempt to shake the president and secure their own nomination privileges."

He added, "I raised my voice for strong reform within the leadership," saying, "I spoke about reform for party unity, not to see chaotic shaking like now." Referring to Secretary-General Lee Cheol-gyu's resignation, he raised his voice, saying, "For those who say even this is insufficient, we can only ask what sufficient roles and sacrifices they have made so far for the success of the party and government."

Assemblyman Lee Yong wrote on Facebook, "This is a time to unite rather than divide in crisis," and questioned, "Assemblyman Hong Moon-pyo, who talks about petitions, and Assemblyman Seo Byung-soo, who calls for the party leader's resignation, what responsible actions have they shown?" Assemblyman Hong Moon-pyo said on a radio show on the 13th, "I received calls from 7 to 8 party branch chiefs, and these branch chiefs said, 'If the person responsible does not come out and only makes temporary fixes, we will even accept petitions.'"