Party Affairs Committee Approves 'One-Member, One-Vote'... Leadership Rift Between Pro-Lee and Pro-Jeong Factions Expected to Cause Turmoil (Comprehensive)

Party Affairs Committee Submits One-Member, One-Vote Amendment to Central Committee
Central Committee Vote Scheduled for February 2-3
Open Clash Between Pro-Lee and Pro-Jeong Factions... Controversy Expected to Continue

The Democratic Party of Korea's Party Affairs Committee has passed an agenda item to submit a proposed amendment to the party constitution, which would introduce a one-member, one-vote system for dues-paying party members, to the Central Committee. However, controversy is expected to continue, as the party leadership remains divided over the issue between pro-Lee Jaemyung and pro-Jeong Cheongrae factions.

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on January 16, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

After the Party Affairs Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido on January 19, Chief Spokesperson Park Soohyun told reporters that the committee had decided to submit the proposed amendment to the party constitution on the one-member, one-vote system for both delegates and dues-paying members to the Central Committee. In addition, an amendment to the party regulations redefining the actual authority and roles of delegates was also approved. It was reported that two members submitted written objections to these two agenda items.

Despite one written objection, an amendment to the party regulations changing the method of electing metropolitan and local proportional representatives was also approved. This amendment includes expanding the voting body from only executive committee members to include both executive committee members and dues-paying party members.

Since the one-member, one-vote agenda item has passed the Party Affairs Committee, the party leadership plans to gather party members' opinions from January 22 to 24, and then hold a Central Committee vote from 10 a.m. on February 2 to 6 p.m. on February 3.

The party is accelerating efforts to reintroduce the one-member, one-vote system just 44 days after it was previously scrapped due to the failure to secure a majority of Central Committee members present on December 5 last year. At that time, 72.65% of Central Committee members who voted were in favor, but the motion failed because a majority of the total members was not reached.

Nevertheless, suspicions persist that this move is a strategic step for the next party leadership race, fueling ongoing controversy. If Jeong Cheongrae runs as a candidate for the next party leader and the one-member, one-vote system is applied, it would be advantageous for him, as he enjoys strong support from dues-paying members.

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on January 16, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The controversy over Jeong Cheongrae's push for the one-member, one-vote system is also intensifying at the Supreme Council meetings, where pro-Lee and pro-Jeong Supreme Council members are openly clashing. At the meeting, Hwang Myungseon, a pro-Lee Supreme Council member, said, "The one-member, one-vote system must be implemented as promised by most of the leadership, but at the same time, we should not take lightly the significance of its previous rejection. If those who amended the election rules are immediately elected under those very rules, it could be criticized as a 'self-serving amendment.'"

Moon Jeongbok, a pro-Jeong Supreme Council member, criticized the pro-Lee faction's conditional push for the one-member, one-vote system, saying, "When I took debate classes, I learned that if you use the word 'however' in the middle of your argument, it undermines your main premise. That's why, when I debate, I make my argument and never use 'however' afterward."

Kang Deukgu, a pro-Lee Supreme Council member, demanded an apology from Chief Spokesperson Park Soohyun immediately after the Supreme Council meeting for his remarks about 'acts of disloyalty.' Kang said, "Can you really call the comments of an elected official an act of disloyalty? If Park does not apologize, I will make a public statement about this at the Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday (the 21st)."

Previously, Chief Spokesperson Park had commented on the previous day's closed-door Supreme Council meeting regarding the renewed push for the one-member, one-vote system, saying, "Certain members of the leadership expressed opposition, sparking controversy and generating daily articles about a party power struggle. If this continues, it could reach a point where it is criticized as an act of disloyalty, and I would have nothing to say in response."

In response to Kang's demand for an apology, Park said, "If there was any misunderstanding, and if you feel your right to speak was infringed upon, I sincerely apologize." However, Park added, "What I made clear yesterday is that, after a unanimous decision at the Supreme Council meeting, details of the decision process were made public through certain media outlets as if they were minutes, leading to a flood of follow-up articles. I had to address the fact that, contrary to the unanimous outcome, articles were being published as if there had been major disagreements during the meeting."

He further emphasized, "I never mentioned any names or commented on the Supreme Council members' right to speak. Nevertheless, if Kang Deukgu felt as if I had singled him out, even though that was not the case, I would like to reiterate my apology."