Pro-Administration Faction's External Organization Gains Strong Support Influence
50 Nominations - 31 Elected... 10% of Total Seats
Kang Wiwon, Representative: "Preparing as an Organization for Regime Change"
The Democratic Party's National Innovation Council (hereinafter Innovation Council), which has positioned itself as an external organization of the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, produced 31 elected members in the 22nd general election. This accounts for one-tenth of the total 300 seats. Having established a nationwide organization within just 10 months of its launch and successfully entering the National Assembly, it is expected to further solidify the influence of the pro-Lee faction both inside and outside the party.
On the afternoon of the 29th, the Innovation Council held a "22nd General Election Evaluation and Organizational Outlook Discussion Meeting" at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Co-representative Kang said, "Our goal of uniting to judge the administration has achieved a first result through the general election," adding, "As the second phase of the Innovation Council begins anew today, we will prepare to become the top external organization for regime change by fully reflecting the opinions gathered at this meeting." This is interpreted as the Innovation Council, based on the strong supporters of the Democratic Party, shifting its goal from "judging the administration" to "regime change."
At the meeting held on the 29th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to discuss the Democratic Party of Korea's National Innovation Committee's general election evaluation and organizational outlook, participants are shouting slogans. From the left: elected representative Choo Mi-ae, lawmaker Woo Won-shik, Kang Wi-won, the party leader's political special advisor, Jeong Seong-ho, and lawmaker Park Chan-dae. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
The event began with "Lee Jae-myung." Even during the commemorative photo session, when the host chanted "Together with Lee Jae-myung," the elected members responded with "Regime change." Then, attendees watched a video composed of scenes such as the announcement of the approval of the arrest motion against Representative Lee Jae-myung, Kim Woo-young, the Innovation Council's standing representative, appealing for rejection, and related news reports. Candidates who ran for the Speaker of the 22nd National Assembly in the first half, including Chu Mi-ae, Woo Won-shik, Jung Sung-ho, and Jo Jung-sik, also appeared in full force to appeal for support. Former Supreme Council member Park Chan-dae, who ran unopposed as the first floor leader of the 22nd National Assembly, was also present.
Standing Representative Kim Woo-young said, "The organization was launched with the purpose of rescuing the only hope, Representative Lee Jae-myung, who is suffering retaliation under prosecutorial dictatorship, overcoming this ordeal, and opening the era of Lee Jae-myung in the next presidential election," adding, "The Democratic Party's innovation nomination struggles, viewed through the existing frames such as sudden death or unexpected demise, successfully overcame the crisis, and the people's anger was expressed on the judgment stage of public opinion, leading to an overwhelming victory."
In the 22nd general election, 50 candidates were nominated under the Innovation Council. This accounts for 20% of the 254 constituencies. Among them, 31 were elected. The Democratic Party holds a total of 171 seats, and among the 161 elected constituency members, the Innovation Council members accounted for nearly 20%.
Looking at the profiles of the elected members, several were at the center of controversies during the nomination and election process. Standing Representative Kim Woo-young stirred controversy by declaring his candidacy for Eunpyeong-gu B in Seoul while retaining his position as Gangwon Province Party Chairman. Elected member Yang Moon-seok (Gyeonggi Ansan-si Gap), who was embroiled in allegations of illicit loans under his college student daughter's name, Kim Jun-hyuk (Gyeonggi Suwon-si Jeong), criticized for past remarks related to claims of sexual bribery involving US military personnel by an Ewha Womans University student, and Jeong Jun-ho (Gwangju Buk-gu Gap), who faced illegal election allegations during his preliminary candidacy, are also members of the Innovation Council.
Additionally, elected member Kim Dong-a (Seoul Seodaemun-gu Gap), known as the "Daejang-dong lawyer," and Mo Kyung-jong (Incheon Seo-gu Gap), who has supported Representative Lee since his time as Governor of Gyeonggi Province, are included. Among incumbents, lawmakers Min Hyung-bae, Kim Yong-min, and Kang Deuk-gu, considered "hardline pro-Lee faction," are also listed.
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