Kim Nam-guk "In Collective Leadership, Reduced to a 'Figurehead Representative'... Advocates for a Single Leadership System"

Opposing Party's 'Collective Leadership System' Claim by Cho Eung-cheon and Others
"Concern Raised That It Means Returning to Old-Style Politics"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Kim Nam-guk, a 'pro-Myeong' faction member of the Democratic Party of Korea, argued against the calls for a 'collective leadership system' as the method for selecting the party leadership in the upcoming party convention, stating, "It is necessary to have a single leadership system to demonstrate a firm and solid opposition through swift decision-making."

On the 9th, Kim said on KBS Radio, "The collective leadership system clearly has both advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages are especially clear when in opposition," expressing his view.

Earlier, on the 7th, Assemblyman Cho Eung-cheon, on the same radio program, regarding the conflict between the 'pro-Myeong' and 'pro-Moon' factions, said, "Both groups have excessively relied on their hardline supporters, accelerating the loss of centrist voters and neglecting this issue. Therefore, regardless of which side gains power and takes the party leadership, people will not think 'the Democratic Party has reformed and reflected.' The next leadership should adopt a collective leadership system," advocating for such a system.

In response, Assemblyman Kim expressed concern, saying, "If the party leader cannot secure a majority of a friendly leadership team, they simply become a figurehead leader," and added, "Conflicts within the leadership often continue regularly, which is often referred to as a 'Bongsunga Academy' (a term implying ineffective leadership)."

He also pointed out, "There is a possibility that this will not be perceived as innovation by the public," and criticized, "Moving to a collective leadership system means guaranteeing a certain share of nomination rights among factions, assembly members, and supreme council members, which could be seen as a return to old-fashioned factional politics and the division of nominations, far from innovation."

Regarding the possibility of Assemblyman Lee Jae-myung running in the party convention scheduled for around August, he explained, "The key issue in this convention is not whether Lee Jae-myung runs or not," and added, "Currently, Lee is humbly and attentively listening to the voices of many citizens. What is important now is how the Democratic Party shows innovation and who is the right person to lead."

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