"'Chinmyeong' Organization, Did They 'Hoengjae'... '49 Members Nominated by The Minjoo Innovation Meeting'"

Democratic Party Nominations: 1 in 5 from The Minjoo Innovation Council
Kang Wiwon "Many Tough Districts and Not Advantageous in Primaries"

The keywords running through the nomination process of the Democratic Party of Korea are 'Pro-Lee Jae-myung windfall' and 'Anti-Lee Jae-myung downfall.' Amid this, it has been confirmed that about 50 members of the 'Democratic Party National Innovation Council (Innovation Council),' a representative pro-Lee Jae-myung (Pro-Lee Jae-myung) outside organization, received nominations. This means that one out of five Democratic Party candidates belongs to the Innovation Council.

Kang Wi-won, co-representative of the Innovation Council, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 14th, "As of the afternoon of the 13th, 47 out of 140 Innovation Council members who ran as Democratic Party preliminary candidates received nominations." Considering that two more, Kim Ki-pyo, standing executive committee member (former Blue House secretary, Gyeonggi Bucheon-si Eul), and Lee Geon-tae, standing executive committee member (Lee Jae-myung party leader special advisor, Gyeonggi Bucheon-si Byeong), won the primaries the previous evening, at least 49 people have secured nominations. This accounts for about 19.3% of the 254 constituencies.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is presiding over the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Co-representative Kang emphasized, "Cases of uncontested nominations are in Daegu and Yeongnam regions classified as difficult districts or constituencies without incumbents, where many of the nominees have previously served as regional committee chairs. The 'Pro-Lee Jae-myung windfall' is just a frame, and being a member of the Innovation Council did not provide any advantage in the primaries." However, he stated that it is difficult to publicly disclose the nomination status of Innovation Council members.

The Innovation Council is an outside organization launched in June last year. It advocates a mass party based on 'party member sovereignty.' Ahead of the general election, it led sensitive issues such as '50% turnover of incumbents' and 'reduction of the delegate system due to strengthening the authority of party members,' thereby increasing its presence. It has grown into a nationwide organization with regional units and is known to have about 2,000 standing and operating committee members.

Considering that many outside figures joined the organization expecting a 'Pro-Lee effect,' it is unreasonable to categorically label all 49 nominees as a 'Pro-Lee Jae-myung windfall.' Asia Economy compiled the candidacy status of 40 key Innovation Council members with confirmed positions, and only eight secured nominations through primaries. One received an uncontested nomination, and two were proportional representation candidates. Twenty-four ran in constituencies with Democratic Party incumbents, accounting for the majority. Given the Innovation Council's advocacy for 'incumbent turnover,' this trend is expected to continue broadly.

Nevertheless, the general assessment is that they played a certain role in escalating the discord during the 'nomination turmoil.' A representative example is Kim Woo-young, former Gangwon Provincial Party Chair and standing representative of the Innovation Council. Before his resignation as Gangwon Provincial Party Chair was accepted, he declared his candidacy for Seoul Eunpyeong-gu Byeong, causing controversy. Even floor leader Hong Ik-pyo raised concerns, but the primary was held, and Kim secured the nomination ticket.

Co-representative Kang said, "The results of this nomination are not about 'Pro-Lee Jae-myung windfall' or 'Anti-Lee Jae-myung downfall' but the judgment of party members on incumbents who remained powerless despite losing the presidential election." Kang emphasized, "Pay attention to the results of the national participatory primaries conducted with 50% party members and 50% general public opinion polls. The support rates among party members and the general public consistently show similar levels, indicating that the will of party members aligns with public sentiment."