Jeong Cheongrae: "Immediate Push for One Member, One Vote... Ushering in an Era of Party Member Sovereignty"

January 12 Supreme Council Meeting with New Leadership
"Special Prosecutor Bill, Regional Integration Bill, and Judicial Reform Bill to Be Passed Before Lunar New Year"

With the Democratic Party of Korea having completed major internal schedules such as the by-elections for Supreme Council members and the floor leader, Party Leader Jeong Cheongrae has reiterated his commitment to reintroduce the previously failed one-member-one-vote system for party members.

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on January 12, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido on January 12, Jeong stated, "We will swiftly usher in an era of party member sovereignty, in line with the era of national sovereignty," adding, "As I have already mentioned, I will immediately push forward with the one-member-one-vote system." He further emphasized, "I once again pledge to make the Democratic Party of Korea a true party of member sovereignty."

The one-member-one-vote system, which aims to increase the voting weight of dues-paying party members, was brought to the party's Central Committee on January 5, but was rejected as it failed to secure the approval of more than half of the committee members, which is the required threshold. Now that the new leadership has been formed through the Supreme Council and floor leader by-elections held the previous day, Jeong plans to reattempt the implementation of the one-member-one-vote system, which was one of his campaign pledges.

In addition, Jeong appeared to be mindful of the competitive dynamics between pro-Lee Jaemyung and pro-Jeong Cheongrae factions during the Supreme Council by-election, emphasizing the need for a "one team, one voice" approach. He said, "There is only one Democratic Party of Korea leadership. We are one," and added, "As always, for the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration, we will never forget to be one team, speak with one voice, and play as a team."

Jeong also stated, "We will pass the second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act, the Special Prosecutor Act on the Unification Church and Shincheonji, the Integration Act for Chungnam-Daejeon and Gwangju-Jeonnam, and the Judicial Reform Act before the Lunar New Year." He continued, "We will also push through more than 200 livelihood-related bills that have piled up like a mountain, overcoming the obstruction of the People Power Party, to take care of the people's livelihoods." He added, "Now that the party leadership is complete, we will move forward quickly and decisively, without hesitation, to address issues on the ground."

Regarding the Special Prosecutor Act on the Unification Church and Shincheonji, which the Democratic Party is promoting, the People Power Party has argued that Shincheonji should be excluded from the scope of the special investigation. Jeong criticized this stance, saying, "Who first proposed the special prosecutor for the Unification Church? We accepted it, didn't we? So why are you opposed now? Seeing the People Power Party insisting on removing Shincheonji, I am all the more determined to include it."

Jeong further stated, "Even as the People Power Party desperately tries to block progress by insisting on removing Shincheonji, the joint investigation headquarters of the prosecution and police is accelerating its investigation. No matter how much the People Power Party tries to shield Shincheonji, the truth will come out."

He added, "If the People Power Party continues to obstruct, I believe the investigation by the prosecution and police can serve as an alternative. The People Power Party must quickly decide whether to proceed with the special prosecutor or to wait and see the results of the prosecution and police investigation. The Democratic Party of Korea will find the key needed to open the door to the truth, whether it is through a special prosecutor or through the prosecution and police investigation."

Meanwhile, Byungdo Han, who was elected as the new floor leader the previous day, along with Supreme Council members Kang Deukgu, Moon Jeongbok, and Lee Seongyun, attended the Supreme Council meeting for the first time on this day.