[Democratic Party National Convention] Election of New Supreme Council Members of the Democratic Party... 'Pro-Moon', 'Local Government Heads', '4-term Veterans' Elected

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] The Democratic Party of Korea held a party convention at its Yeouido headquarters in Seoul on the 29th and elected a new leadership team. Among the eight candidates, the Democratic Party elected Representative Kim Jong-min, Mayor Yeom Tae-young of Suwon, Representatives Noh Woong-rae, Shin Dong-geun, and Yang Hyang-ja as the new Supreme Council members. Mayor Yeom, elected on this day, earned the title of the ‘first incumbent local government chief Supreme Council member.’ Representative Yang was elected as the only female Supreme Council member.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Representative Kim, considered a leading figure of the ‘pro-Roh Moo-hyun and pro-Moon Jae-in’ faction, recorded the highest vote share of 19.88%. A former journalist, he has been voicing calls for ‘prosecutorial reform’ as a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in both the 20th and 21st National Assembly.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mayor Yeom became the first incumbent local government chief to serve as a Supreme Council member in the Democratic Party. Advocating for ‘local autonomy,’ Mayor Yeom is a three-term mayor of Suwon, previously served as a secretary to President Roh Moo-hyun at the Blue House, and was a member of the Presidential Committee on Jobs under the Moon Jae-in administration. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Association of Mayors, County Heads, and District Heads.

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Former journalist Representative Noh is a senior lawmaker who has been elected four consecutive times in Seoul’s Mapo Gap district. Although he is classified as part of the party’s ‘non-mainstream’ faction due to his weak factional ties, he is the longest-serving among the newly elected Supreme Council members and has held positions such as the Democratic Party spokesperson and secretary-general. At his Supreme Council candidacy press conference, Representative Noh stated, “Why would a four-term lawmaker like me step forward? It is with the resolve to take unlimited responsibility.”

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Dentist-turned-politician Representative Shin was imprisoned during his anti-dictatorship activism while attending Kyung Hee University’s College of Dentistry. In 2002, the late Kim Geun-tae, chairman of the Uri Party, encouraged him to enter politics, and he ran in a by-election but was defeated. He also faced defeats in the 17th and 19th general elections and the 2015 by-election. Finally, he was elected in the 20th general election and re-elected in the 21st. In this party convention, Representative Shin emphasized his ‘fourth defeat, fifth attempt’ spirit.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Samsung Electronics executive Representative Yang successfully secured re-election as a Supreme Council member. He joined the Democratic Party in 2016 as a recruited talent and defeated then-Representative Yoo Eun-hye to be elected as a Supreme Council member. In his candidate speech, Representative Yang stressed, “We must make the economy and women the Democratic Party’s flagship products.”

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