Why Has the Democratic Party's 'Collective Leadership System' Emerged Ahead of the Party Convention?

Divergent Positions Based on Factional Loyalties
Election Method Reignited Under 'Pro-Myeong vs. Anti-Myeong' Framework

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As the Democratic Party of Korea prepares to elect its party leader this August, tensions are escalating between the 'Pro-Myeong (Pro-Lee Jae-myung faction)' and 'Anti-Myeong (Anti-Lee Jae-myung faction)' over the method of forming the leadership structure. The key point of conflict is whether to adopt a 'collective leadership system' or a 'single leadership system' for the next leadership team. Why has this discussion emerged ahead of the party convention?

Factional Conflict and the Controversy over the 'Collective Leadership System'

[Photo by Yonhap News]

The single leadership system refers to electing the party leader and the supreme council members separately through distinct votes when forming the leadership. In contrast, the collective leadership system elects the party leader and supreme council members together without separate elections, and the person with the highest votes is appointed as the leader. The single leadership system has the advantage of concentrating authority in the party leader, enabling decisive leadership, but it carries the risk that the party's future depends heavily on the leader's capabilities. The collective leadership system can incorporate diverse opinions into party policies regardless of faction, but there is concern over potential conflicts among supreme council members.

Historically, the method of electing party leadership has been influenced by factional interests. In the predecessor of the Democratic Party, the United Democratic Party, the collective leadership system was proposed ahead of the 2010 party convention. At that time, the party mainstream figures, former lawmakers Chung Sye-kyun and Sohn Hak-kyu, advocated for a single leadership system, while former lawmaker Chung Dong-young supported the collective leadership system. Ultimately, the collective leadership system was adopted, and Sohn Hak-kyu, Chung Dong-young, and Chung Sye-kyun entered the supreme council as the top three vote-getters.

The Saenuri Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, also chose the collective leadership system at its 2014 party convention, with former leader Kim Moo-sung and former lawmaker Seo Cheong-won elected as the leader and supreme council member, respectively. However, conflicts intensified as the minority non-Park faction took the party leadership while pro-Park supreme council members exerted pressure, culminating in the 20th general election nomination controversy.

Last year, ahead of the presidential election, the collective leadership system was again proposed centered around presidential candidates during the party convention. At that time, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min argued, "Rather than the current system where only the first-place candidate enters the leadership, it is better for those ranked within the top five to have a voice and manage the presidential election transparently and fairly."

'Pro-Myeong vs. Anti-Myeong' Factional Interests Entangled in the Party Convention

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ahead of this party convention, calls for the collective leadership system have resurfaced, again dividing opinions along factional lines. With the possibility of former presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung running, the Pro-Myeong faction insists that the party leader should be granted strong authority to lead innovation.

On the 9th, Kim Nam-guk, a member of the '7-person group' close to Lee, stated on KBS Radio, "It is necessary to adopt a single leadership system to enable swift decision-making and demonstrate a firm and solid opposition." He explained, "If the party leader fails to secure a friendly majority within the leadership, they simply become a figurehead. There are frequent ongoing conflicts within the leadership, often referred to as a 'Bongsunga Academy' (a term implying ineffectiveness)."

On the other hand, the Anti-Myeong faction supports the collective leadership system, arguing that mechanisms should be in place to check the party leader's authority. On the 9th, a group of re-elected lawmakers declared, "We have gathered the majority opinion among re-elected lawmakers in favor of a 'unified collective leadership system' and plan to present this to the Emergency Response Committee." They explained the reason as, "As an opposition party, diverse opinions arise, and a unified leadership system that reflects public sentiment and reaches out to the people is appropriate."

Earlier, on the 7th, lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon also said on KBS Radio, "When our party was in opposition, we usually held a one-track election rather than a two-track one. We elected the leader and supreme council members together, and the supreme council member with the highest votes became the leader." He described this as a "de facto collective leadership system," adding, "When in opposition, this system is weaker in power, so we adopted a one-track system to share authority and responsibility." He further argued, "Even if Lee runs for leader, shouldn't we now move to a one-track system? That way, the opposition side would be less likely to mount fierce resistance."

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