Reduced Delegate Weight and Strengthened Proportion of Party Members Criticized
"Enthusiasm for Specific Politicians, Grounds for Disqualification"
Kim Du-kwan, the Democratic Party representative candidate, sent a text message to delegates nine days before the '8.18 National Party Members Conference (Party Convention).' The message criticized the increased weight of the voting power of party members with voting rights and encouraged delegates to vote. Kim expects to secure a higher percentage in the delegate vote scheduled for the 18th than the current vote share obtained from the party members' vote.
On the afternoon of the 9th, Kim sent a text to Democratic Party delegates stating, "The 1st National Party Members Conference is underway," and added, "For many who thought the party convention meant the National Delegate Conference, this might be unfamiliar." He continued, "The current online voting rate of party members with voting rights is 26.47%," and said, "If it does not even reach 30%, one cannot help but question its representativeness." While agreeing with the principle of a party centered on its members, he noted, "Reality and ideals are not the same." The Democratic Party revised the name of the National Delegate Conference to the National Party Members Conference through a party constitution amendment in June.
Kim Du-kwan, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, is answering reporters' questions after concluding a press conference proposing a grand coalition for the people's economy at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the morning of the 29th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Kim argued that the voting rate of party members with voting rights is low and criticized the high weight given to their voting results. He said, "The influence of party members with voting rights on the party convention decision accounts for 56%," adding, "This is a 16 percentage point increase compared to the last convention, while the delegate weight has decreased by 16 percentage points." He also questioned, "Is it normal for the Central Committee to frequently revise the party constitution?" The Democratic Party changed the previous rule, which reflected 40% party members with voting rights, 30% delegates, 25% public opinion polls, and 5% general party members, to reflect 56% party members with voting rights, 14% delegates, and 30% opinion polls in this convention.
Furthermore, he claimed, "The 1.22 million party members with voting rights who qualify as the electorate are busy with their livelihoods." He said, "It is true that a high level of political judgment is required to gather diverse public opinions and reflect them in decision-making, but if enthusiasm is only for a specific politician, this could also be a serious disqualification." This statement is interpreted as targeting Lee Jae-myung, who is leading in 13 out of 15 nationwide regional primaries with nearly 87% of the party members' votes. Kim has secured 11% cumulatively in the 13 regions. The nationwide regional primaries announce the number of online votes from party members with voting rights.
Kim analyzed that the delegate election would show a different pattern from the online voting results of party members with voting rights. At a meeting with reporters after a press conference on the 5th, he expressed confidence, saying, "At least a one-sided concentration like the current party members with voting rights will not appear," and "Our party will maintain balance and centrality." On the day, Kim emphasized, "I believe delegates know well what results come from a large gap between public sentiment and party sentiment," and said, "It is time for the delegates to sound the alarm through their votes."
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