Minju, Signs of Discord Over Strengthening Party Membership Rights... "Need to Adjust Speed" vs "Party Centered on Members"

Shift to Additional Discussion on Party Charter and Rules Amendments
"Concerns Over Unilateral Strengthening of Party Membership Rights"

Signs of discord are emerging within the Democratic Party of Korea over the proposed amendments to the party constitution and regulations. This is due to the spread of concerns even among pro-Lee Jae-myung factions that the amendments, which strengthen Lee Jae-myung's centralized leadership, are being pursued in an 'unjust manner.'

According to opposition parties on the 3rd, the Democratic Party plans to continue discussions on the amendments at the upcoming nationwide regional chairpersons and lawmakers joint meeting scheduled for the 5th. Initially, the task force on party constitution and regulation amendments planned to report to the lawmakers' meeting last month, then submit the agenda to the party affairs committee, and finally seek approval from the supreme council before proposing the amendments. However, the direction has shifted towards further discussions.

The core issue lies particularly in the amendments aimed at strengthening the rights of party members. According to the proposed amendments, 20% of the vote in the election of the National Assembly Speaker and floor leader will be allocated to party member voting. Within the parliamentary ranks, there are concerns that as the influence of non-parliamentary party members grows, the voices of lawmakers may correspondingly diminish. A pro-Lee Jae-myung lawmaker said in a phone interview, "During the lawmakers' meeting, one member said, 'The direction of the party constitution amendment seems to be unjust,' and there is growing support for the opinion that it should be carefully reviewed."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Some also point out that strengthening party member rights could place significant psychological pressure on lawmakers. A first-term Democratic Party lawmaker said, "There is a sense of problem with unilaterally strengthening party member rights regardless of the lawmakers' intentions."

On the other hand, as calls for caution regarding the amendments grow, non-parliamentary party members have begun collective action. The 'The Minjoo National Innovation Association,' a strong pro-Lee Jae-myung organization, issued a resolution stating, "Party members must be at the center of party activities, and party members must be the main agents of a democratic mass party."

Within the party, there is a cautious atmosphere about the possibility that if discord intensifies, the voices of the anti-Lee Jae-myung faction (non-Lee Jae-myung) could expand, bringing conflicts to the surface. Party spokesperson Han Min-su said in a phone interview, "We will continue internal discussions regarding the strengthening of party member rights before making a decision."