"Must All Promises Be Kept?" Opposition... Growing Concerns Over 'Satellite Parties'

Controversy Over Electoral System for 22nd General Election Remains
Attention on Parties Joining if United Proportional Representation Party is Pursued

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "What good is it to lose stylishly?" Following this, Hong Ik-pyo, the party's floor leader, also remarked, "Do we have to keep all promises?" As a result, the Democratic Party is increasingly likely to break its promise to 'maintain the mixed-member proportional representation system and prevent satellite parties' and turn its attention to reverting to the parallel voting system and creating satellite parties.

There are also discussions about the necessity of a 'united proportional party,' which could be interpreted as a de facto satellite party, raising concerns about the reality of satellite party proliferation.

Regarding former leader Lee Nak-yeon's emphasis on maintaining the mixed-member proportional representation system, which was Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign pledge, Hong Ik-pyo said on the CBS program "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" on the 5th, "Former leader Lee's point is largely valid and correct in many respects," but added, "One thing to add is, do we have to keep all promises?"

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Lee Jae-myung pledged during the presidential election to maintain the mixed-member proportional representation system while preventing satellite parties, which were problematic in the last general election. However, there may be situations where some of those promises cannot be kept. This implies the possibility of either breaking the pledge and switching to a parallel voting system or maintaining the mixed-member proportional representation system but creating satellite parties.

He stated, "Sometimes there may be situations where promises cannot be kept. In such cases, it is necessary to openly explain why the promise cannot be kept, apologize, and so on," adding, "It is important to explain why changes are necessary, and of course, efforts to keep promises as much as possible should be a prerequisite."

There is another path. While maintaining the mixed-member proportional representation system, the Democratic Party could form a 'united proportional party' by allying with opposition parties such as the Basic Income Party led by Representative Yong Hye-in, who was elected through the Democratic Party's satellite party, the Together Citizens' Party.

Hong Ik-pyo said on MBC Radio the previous day, "Not only the Basic Income Party led by Representative Yong related to our party but also others are currently working on new party formations or so-called proportional party creation in various places," and added, "I think there is a need to create a united proportional party in some form with those forces."

If the Democratic Party chooses to form a united proportional party, there is also a possibility of alliance with new party forces centered around former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, and former Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae.

However, it is expected to be difficult for these groups to avoid criticism that they are also satellite parties of the Democratic Party. Regarding Hong Ik-pyo's mention of a 'united proportional party,' Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon criticized on BBS's "Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal," saying, "This is regression," and questioned, "How is it that all those who have served as our party leaders fail to meet even the average moral standards of the public? I really don't understand."

He added, "We must keep the promises we made to the people so that they can trust what we say in the future and believe in us enough to give us their votes."