Head Kim Min-seok, Supreme Council Member, Former Lawmaker Choi Hye-young as Secretary
4 Headquarters 1 Committee System Covering Organization and Policy
The Democratic Party of Korea has launched a 22-member 'Ruling Plan Headquarters (Headquarters)' within the party. The headquarters held its first meeting on the morning of the 24th at the National Assembly, with a diverse lineup of figures ranging from Secretary-General Kim Yoon-duk to Kim Ji-soo, the head of the Korean Peninsula Future Economy Forum and an outsider who ran for party leader, regardless of seniority or whether they are inside or outside the National Assembly. The head of the headquarters is Supreme Council Member Kim Min-seok (4-term, Yeongdeungpo-gu Eul, Seoul), and the secretary is former lawmaker Choi Hye-young, who served as the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson.
Supreme Council Member Kim said it was organized under a '4 headquarters 1 committee' system, stating, "The Planning Situation Headquarters will become a young and fresh idea bank, and the Party Member Sovereignty Headquarters will be the heart of party innovation." He continued, "The Policy Agreement Headquarters will be a breakthrough for people-friendly policies, and the K-Muksanism Headquarters will be the rocket for new growth," adding, "The 100,000 Model Party Members Committee will be made a model for enthusiastic and exemplary party member activities."
The headquarters appointed senior lawmakers including Secretary-General Kim, 4-term lawmaker Lee Chun-seok, and 3-term lawmaker Kim Young-ho. Senior lawmakers will provide stability while first- and second-term current and former lawmakers and outsiders will be active. It can be broadly divided into organization, situation, policy, and youth sectors. Representative pro-Lee Jae-myung faction members such as lawmaker Yoon Jong-gun and former standing representative Kang Wi-won of the Democratic Party National Innovation Council will work to rally party members. Lawmaker Kim Dong-a, known as the 'Daejang-dong lawyer' (first-term, Seodaemun-gu Gap, Seoul), and former Supreme Council Member Jeon Eun-soo, active in the Ulsan region as an outsider, were appointed deputy heads of the Planning Situation Headquarters.
In the policy sector, former Gyeonggi Democratic Institute Director Joo Hyung-chul stands out. Director Joo, who worked with Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon, stepped down from his position to join the headquarters. Governor Kim is considered a competitor to Representative Lee within the party. Former lawmaker Kim Byung-wook, known for his 'financial investment tax deferral theory,' and former lawmaker Kim Jung-woo, who served as head of the Public Procurement Service under the Moon Jae-in administration, are also involved. The headquarters also includes 'youth' leader Kim, who ran for party leader, and party member Oh Chang-seok, who proposed 'taste-targeted pledges' during the last general election.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is talking with Supreme Council member Kang Min-seok at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
As the name 'Ruling Plan' suggests, the headquarters is expected to prepare for producing the next president. The headquarters has adopted 'positive' and 'speed' as its mottos. In election campaign strategy, 'positive' refers to appealing to voters by emphasizing the candidate's own pledges and aspirations. It contrasts with 'negative,' which highlights the weaknesses of opposing candidates. The headquarters announced plans to present agendas one by one in fields such as culture, religion, and healthcare. The first seminar will discuss the cultural industry, which the headquarters said signifies continuing the spirit of former President Kim Dae-jung.
The upcoming presidential election is scheduled for March 2027. At this point, two and a half years away, this is effectively the formation of the 'Lee Jae-myung presidential campaign.' It appears to reflect the Democratic Party's consideration of a possible early presidential election. Supreme Council Member Kim said, "After today's fight, we will begin drafting and constructing detailed plans for each section of the high-speed road to regime change and the high-speed road to national success toward tomorrow's ruling." However, when asked if this was essentially a 'shadow cabinet (preliminary cabinet)' concept, he replied, "Absolutely not."
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