Democratic Party First-Term Lawmaker: "Presidential, Local Election, and Moon Government Officials Should Not Run in the Party Convention"

"Democratic Party's Attitude and Procedural Violations... Unable to Change Even After By-election Defeat"
Overrepresented Party Sentiment, Improvement Needed

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Deomincho, a group of first-term lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea, demanded that those responsible for the upcoming party leadership election, including those accountable for the presidential and local elections as well as the Moon Jae-in administration, step down to a secondary role.

On the 15th, members of Deomincho held a closed-door discussion at the National Assembly to evaluate and propose measures regarding the presidential and local elections. After the discussion, Ko Young-in, the Deomincho operations committee chairman, told reporters, "There is a need for politics that takes responsibility for consecutive defeats," adding, "Regarding the five years of the Moon Jae-in administration, the responsibility of candidates related to the last presidential election, and others involved, there was a consensus that we could not have won the local elections held under the circumstances that seemed to empower the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. However, due to various problems in the candidate nomination process, there were clear causes that led to a crushing defeat, even though we could have lost less and fought better." He continued, "There was an opinion that those responsible for the consecutive defeats and those who provoke factional conflicts should not participate in this party leadership election." However, Chairman Ko noted, "This is not the overall opinion but reflects the views of a larger number of members."

Although no specific names were mentioned, this is interpreted as a call for Lee Jae-myung, who was the Democratic Party candidate in the last presidential election and served as the general election campaign committee chairman in the local elections, not to run in the party leadership election. Additionally, it appears that a retreat to a secondary role was also requested for Jeon Hae-cheol and Hong Young-pyo, members of the pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) faction who are considered major contenders for party leadership.

Chairman Ko pointed out, "The gathered opinions indicated that there was significant damage in terms of the Democratic Party's attitude and procedures," adding, "We have not fully improved or changed the issues of double standards and breaking promises even after the Seoul and Busan by-elections."

Furthermore, regarding the party leadership election, he reflected on the issue that the voices of party members are disproportionately represented compared to those of the general public, stating, "We have self-reflected on the problem that party sentiment is overrepresented by a minority." He emphasized the need to revise the current party leadership election regulations, which heavily represent party members' voices, so that public opinion can be more adequately reflected.

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