Lee Sungkwon: "Raising Party Member Vote Ratio in People Power Party Is a 'Political Act of Self-Harm'... Democratic Party's 'One Person, One Vote' Also Ultimately Fails"

Criticism of Raising Party Member Vote Ratio from 50% to 70%
"Rushed Decision Without Sufficient Deliberation"
Mentions Failure of Democratic Party's One Person, One Vote System

Lee Sungkwon, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the party's internal move on December 7 to raise the proportion of party member votes in local election primaries from the current 50% to 70%, calling it a "political act of self-harm." He emphasized that the party must break away from its past and establish itself as a rational political party.

On the same day, through social media, Assemblyman Lee commented on the failure of the "one person, one vote" system promoted by Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. He pointed out, "It was clearly motivated by Representative Jeong's personal ambition for reappointment. The lack of sufficient deliberation and concerns about the strengthening influence of hardline party members were also cited as reasons for its rejection."

Yonhap News Agency

He went on to express concern about the People Power Party's move to increase the proportion of party member votes in the local election primaries. Assemblyman Lee stated, "Deciding to increase the proportion of party member votes in front of the public is nothing short of a 'political act of self-harm' that goes against public sentiment. There was also a lack of sufficient deliberation in the decision-making process, and there were strong voices expressing concern about the growing influence of hardline supporters."

Previously, the People Power Party has been pushing to revise the primary rules to significantly increase the weight of party member votes ahead of the local elections scheduled for June 2026. The party's "Local Election General Planning Committee" (headed by Na Kyungwon) confirmed this revision proposal at a general meeting on November 21 and decided to recommend it to the Supreme Council. The revision would change the current system from 50% party member electoral college votes and 50% public opinion poll to 70% party member electoral college votes and 30% public opinion poll.

Assemblyman Lee said, "The People Power Party is now preparing to break with its wrongful past and innovate into a party capable of governing and offering alternatives. Let us correct our own wrong decisions so that the People Power Party can stand before the public as a party that makes sensible and rational judgments."

He added, "The public has always turned away from parties that are excessively biased to one side during elections, and has supported those that seek to expand their base and better reflect the will of the people. That is why political parties have always deliberated and established party management and nomination rules that better reflect public sentiment."

Previously, on December 3, Assemblyman Lee, along with 25 first- and second-term lawmakers, issued an apology regarding the first anniversary of the emergency martial law. They stated, "The 12·3 Emergency Martial Law was an unconstitutional act that trampled on liberal democracy," and declared, "We will sever political ties with those who led the emergency martial law, including former President Yoon Suk-yeol."