Democratic Party Proportional Alliance Party Vote... Kim Hae-young, Yoo Seung-hee, Kim Doo-gwan Oppose

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 11th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to conduct a party-wide vote over two days, from the 12th to the 13th, to decide whether to join the proportional representation coalition party, amid growing concerns within the party about participation in the coalition.

On the morning of the 11th, Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, "The Democratic Party has decided to put the participation in the coalition party for the unification of proportional representation candidates of the Candlelight Revolution forces to a party-wide vote today," adding, "The final decision will be made through tomorrow's party-wide vote, and we will humbly accept the members' decision."

Democratic Party Supreme Council member Kim Hae-young expressed opposition to the proportional representation coalition party before the Supreme Council meeting switched to a closed session. He said, "There are concerns that the Democratic Party's participation in the electoral coalition party will cause significant public sentiment alienation," and pointed out, "There is no guarantee that support for the Democratic Party will effectively transfer to the electoral coalition party."

He continued, "Even if we, the Democratic Party, concede to a lower position in the candidate ranking process of the electoral coalition party, considerable confusion is expected," adding, "If we fail to uphold principles because the situation is difficult and things go wrong, it will cause irreparable damage."

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-hee also expressed opposition through her Facebook on the same day. She said, "It is truly irresponsible for the leadership to make a conclusion and then put it to a party vote," emphasizing, "If the 4+1 coalition, including the Justice Party, which had united for reform bills, all agree to the proportional party, the Democratic Party should not field proportional candidates."

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan, running in Yangsan-eul, Gyeongnam, also appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' the day before and expressed opposition, saying, "The correct answer is to uphold principles especially when the party is in difficulty." He said, "It is more important to gain seats in constituencies than seats we cannot get through proportional representation," adding, "I feel a sense of crisis that centrist votes will fly away if we break our principles."

On the same day, Democratic Party election committee spokesperson Je Yoon-kyung said, "From 6 a.m. on the 12th to 6 a.m. on the 13th, for 24 hours, a party-wide vote will be conducted among eligible party members with voting rights in the 21st general election primary to ask for approval or disapproval of joining the proportional representation coalition party."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.