Democratic Party at Risk of Losing Change and Innovation Title, Proposes 'Permanent Consultative Body for Ruling and Opposition Parties' to Lee Jun-seok

Lee Jun-seok Representative "Positive about Cooperation
Regularization Soon" Responds

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Jeon Jin-young] The Democratic Party of Korea, under pressure to reform due to the ‘Lee Jun-seok whirlwind,’ is striving to ride the ‘lamp of reform’ by proposing a ‘Permanent Consultative Body of the Ruling and Opposition Parties and the Government.’

At the Supreme Council meeting held on the morning of the 14th, Party Leader Song Young-gil commented on the election of Lee Jun-seok as the leader of the People Power Party, saying, "I hope a relationship between the ruling and opposition parties will be formed that moves beyond outdated ideologies and factional logic to constructively compete and cooperate on livelihood policies and future visions." He added, "Let us create a Republic of Korea where the saying of former President Roh Moo-hyun, ‘Beans in Busan will also be beans in Daegu and Gwangju,’ comes true," and "To this end, I officially request Leader Lee to actively participate in the Permanent Consultative Body of the Ruling and Opposition Parties and the Government."

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The Permanent Consultative Body of the Ruling and Opposition Parties and the Government was promoted following a proposal by President Moon Jae-in in 2017. In August 2018, an agreement was reached between the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to hold meetings quarterly, but after the first meeting on November 5, it has not been activated. At a meeting with the leaders of the five parties on the 26th of last month, President Moon suggested reactivating it, saying, "If the permanent consultative body is realized, the public will also trust politics."

Leader Lee, who received Leader Song’s proposal that morning in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, responded, "I positively evaluate Leader Song’s proposal for regular talks for bipartisan cooperation," adding, "We will discuss the format and frequency separately, but we will regularize it as soon as possible to show a vision for cooperation."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is viewing the activation of the permanent consultative body as an opportunity to turn the tide amid deepening internal conflicts over real estate issues. Separately, the party also faces the challenge of responding to the ‘Lee Jun-seok whirlwind.’

At the Supreme Council meeting on the 14th, the Democratic Party placed the remarks of Lee Dong-hak, a Supreme Council member appointed as the youth quota member, at the forefront. Lee declared, "The Democratic Party will not lose either. We will prepare for nomination reform," and expressed his determination for reform, saying, "We will accept what is good and ‘ask and double down.’"

Within the Democratic Party, there are various young politicians, including lawmakers in their 30s such as Jang Kyung-tae and Jang Cheol-min, but there is a pessimistic view about whether an environment is in place for their growth. The reality that young politicians within the party face criticism as the ‘five first-term enemies’ or receive ‘text message bombs’ after expressing their convictions attests to this. Conversely, the Lee Jun-seok whirlwind may serve as an opportunity to raise the standing of young politicians within the Democratic Party. There is also talk within the party of appointing Lee Dong-hak as the head of the upcoming presidential election planning team to achieve youth-centered innovation.

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