"Democratic Party Without Democracy, Must Shift from 'Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party' to 'People's Democratic Party'"

Low Sense of Crisis Despite Three Consecutive Defeats in By-elections, Local Elections, and Presidential Election
Kim Jong-min: "Democracy Should Promote Respect for Differences and Acceptance of Diversity"
Jo Eung-cheon: "Another Hegemony Is Being Created Through the Revision of the Jeonjunwi Rules"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] It has been pointed out that behind the crisis of the Democratic Party of Korea lies a lack of ‘democracy.’ Following defeats in the presidential and local elections, there are concerns that if the Democratic Party undergoes only remodeling-level reforms instead of a reconstruction on the scale of a re-founding, it may ultimately struggle to survive.

On the 19th, lawmakers from the Democratic Party held a session titled ‘Reflection and Innovation of the Democratic Party’ to diagnose the fundamental causes of the party’s crisis. Kim Jong-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker who presented at the session, stated, “We suffered three consecutive defeats in last year’s by-elections, presidential election, and local elections,” attributing the causes to public sentiment drifting away, lack of capability, and inadequate response to transitional periods.

Regarding the issue of lack of capability, Kim particularly pointed out, “This crisis came despite the overwhelming control of local power by the candlelight government,” adding, “It has been proven that even though all authority was granted, there was no capability.” He noted, “Although the Democratic Party is a 70-year-old party, if it fails to respond to progressive reforms during rapid social changes, it is highly likely to become obsolete,” and criticized, “The biggest crisis is the low sense of urgency.” He warned, “If the party uses this crisis as a turning point and rises again, it can survive future transitional periods, but if it only remodels, it may win one or two elections but will not survive in the future.”

He also criticized, “Although there was a strong desire for internal reform after the election defeat, everything changed as the rules became a contentious issue at the party convention,” adding, “There is an Emergency Response Committee, but no emergency measures; only normal measures are presented. The Party Convention Preparation Committee accepted an autocratic leadership and approved fan loyalty over public sentiment.”

Regarding the evaluation of the last presidential election, Kim said, “Through the presidential and local elections, ‘Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Party’ failed to prove itself as an alternative to Yeouido politics,” and criticized, “After the presidential election, it quickly assimilated into Yeouido-style vested interest politics. The ‘lost but well-fought’ approach revealed unreflective double standards politics, pragmatic politics prioritizing immediate gains over representation, fan-based politics distancing from public sentiment, exclusive fandom intensification such as the ‘watermelon attack,’ and messianic politics relying on individual figures. The existing problems of Yeouido politics have not improved but worsened.” He ultimately emphasized, “It is difficult with ‘Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Party’ as shown in the presidential and local elections. We must move from ‘Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Party’ to the ‘People’s Democratic Party.’”

In this context, he called for the eradication of fake democracy within the party. He stated, “When we fought against violence to achieve democracy, a dichotomy between democracy and anti-democracy was necessary, but the black-and-white dichotomy is a logic of struggle, not democracy,” and argued, “We must now break free from the old black-and-white democracy of reform versus anti-reform and deep-rooted evils versus liquidation.” He explained, “Black-and-white democracy turns differing opinions into hostility, hatred, and exclusion in the name of democracy and reform. Democracy is not black and white but color,” adding, “Democracy means respecting and coexisting with different colors and differences.” Furthermore, he identified as enemies of intra-party democracy the winner-takes-all vested interest politics where the president and party leader hold all power, election politics lacking vision and strategy, messianic democracy overly dependent on presidential candidates, and Colosseum democracy where the loudest voice dominates without dialogue or debate.

Kim emphasized the ultimate solution as “respecting differences and other opinions,” stating, “Difference, diversity, respect, coexistence, and republicanism are the essential values of democracy. Respecting differences brings new wisdom and strength.” Regarding democratic procedures, he also stressed, “Simple majority decisions can be dangerous. Only majority decisions reached through dialogue and debate lead to good outcomes.”

Attending the discussion, lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon said, “It is called the Democratic Party, but the system is not democratic,” and added, “We cannot speak frankly at party meetings. We only reveal our true thoughts to a few people, so outside small groups, it is hard to know what other lawmakers think.” Cho said, “Even when I speak thoughtfully and with restraint, if criticized, I am targeted and attacked as ‘some watermelon is talking nonsense.’ The overwhelming power that forces others to do what they do not want is called hegemony, and hegemony has been operating within the Democratic Party.” He criticized, “Watching the process of making rules for the Party Convention Preparation Committee, a new hegemony is being created.”

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