Democratic Party's "One Person, One Vote" Amendment Receives Overwhelming 86% Support from Members

276,000 Dues-Paying Members Participate, Turnout at 16.81%
"One Person, One Vote" and Proportional Representation Selection Reform Approved
Final Decision Expected Next Week After Party Affairs and Central Committee Resolutions

The Democratic Party of Korea conducted a party member opinion poll on proposed amendments to the party constitution and regulations aimed at expanding the rights of dues-paying members, and all three major proposals received overwhelming approval. The voter turnout was in the mid-to-high teens, percentage-wise.

During the two-day vote held on November 19 and 20, 276,589 out of 1,645,061 eligible dues-paying members participated, resulting in a turnout rate of 16.81%.

Looking at the results for each proposal: The introduction of the "one person, one vote" system, which would equalize the value of votes between delegates and dues-paying members from the current ratio of 20 to 1 to 1 to 1 in the election of the party leader and Supreme Council members, received 86.81% approval (240,116 votes in favor) and 13.19% opposition (36,473 votes).

The proposal to change the selection method for proportional representation candidates for metropolitan and basic councils in the 9th nationwide local elections from a vote by executive committee members at each level to a 100% vote by dues-paying members received 88.50% approval (244,786 votes in favor) and 11.50% opposition (31,803 votes).

Yonhap News Agency

The proposal to allow a preliminary primary when there are four or more candidates in the nationwide local elections, and to conduct this primary through a 100% vote by dues-paying members, was also approved by 89.57% (247,754 votes in favor) and opposed by 10.43% (28,835 votes).

This vote was conducted as a survey to collect opinions.

Park Suhyeon, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party, stated in a written briefing, "More dues-paying members participated in this two-day process than expected," and added, "The party leadership will take these results with the utmost seriousness." He continued, "We will fully reflect the will of the members in the decision-making processes of the Supreme Council, the Party Affairs Committee, and the Central Committee," and said, "The Democratic Party, together with our members, will usher in a true 'era of member sovereignty.'"

This amendment, which gives concrete form to Democratic Party leader Jung Cheongrae's pledge for an "era of member sovereignty," is expected to be finalized next week after resolutions by the Party Affairs Committee and the Central Committee.