Suhyun Park Holds Press Briefing on Current Issues on January 18
The Democratic Party of Korea has taken a firm stance against interpretations framing the renewed push for the "one delegate/party member, one vote" system, led by Representative Jeong Cheongrae, as a power struggle within the party.
On January 18, Suhyun Park, Senior Spokesperson of the Democratic Party, held a press briefing at the National Assembly and stated, "It is highly inappropriate to send conflicting messages to the media, as if there were internal disagreements, regarding an issue that was unanimously approved. Party members should refrain from making remarks or taking actions that could be perceived as a power struggle."
Park further criticized, "Some are even pressuring the representative to announce that he will not seek another term in order to keep the one-person-one-vote promise, or insisting that the system should not be applied at this party convention. Such arguments go so far as to deny the very basic principles of democracy."
He continued, "It is reasonable to criticize someone for not keeping promises made at the party convention, but it is difficult to understand criticism directed at a representative who is trying to fulfill a pledge. The ongoing controversy is being turned into daily reports of a power struggle, and if this continues, there may come a point where such actions could rightfully be criticized as acts against the party."
Regarding whether Representative Jeong will seek another term, Park said, "I have asked myself three questions: whether Representative Jeong intends to seek re-election, what relationship the one-person-one-vote system has with re-election, and if he does intend to run again, whether he should refrain from pursuing this system. I have never heard even the slightest suggestion from Representative Jeong about re-election."
He added, "Even when I directly asked him, Representative Jeong replied that he has never set a particular position or goal for himself, and that he simply does his best in the work of today and tomorrow. At least up to now, Representative Jeong has not been promoting the one-person-one-vote system with re-election in mind, nor has he mentioned re-election to anyone."
Previously, on January 16, the Democratic Party announced that its Supreme Council had unanimously decided to resume efforts to introduce the one-person-one-vote system, a key pledge of Representative Jeong.
However, it was later revealed that during the closed meeting, Supreme Council members Lee Eonju, Kang Deukgu, and Hwang Myungseon, who are not aligned with the party leadership, raised objections. Han Byungdo, the floor leader and an ex officio member of the Supreme Council, was also reported to have not taken an active stance on the one-person-one-vote system.
The one-person-one-vote system, a core pledge of Representative Jeong, aims to adjust the voting value of delegates and party members in the elections for party leader and Supreme Council members from the current ratio of "less than 20 to 1" to "1 to 1."
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