Democratic Party Considering New Party Charter Article for 'All Registered Members Voting'... Why Are Pro-Myeong and Anti-Myeong Factions Clashing?

Democratic Party to Prioritize Party Charter Over Nationwide Delegate Voting
Cry of "10% Controls Decisions, Are We Creating a Gaeddal Party?" Sparks Backlash
Pro-Myeong: "What's Scary About Democracy?", Woo Sang-ho: "Criticism Goes Too Far"

Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yunjin] The Democratic Party of Korea is pushing for a revision of the party constitution to elevate the full vote of party members (party member vote) to the highest decision-making body. While the non-Lee Jae-myung faction is opposing this, calling it the 'Lee Jae-myung private party' move, pro-Lee Jae-myung lawmakers are defending it as an 'expansion of direct democracy.'

The controversial part is in the party constitution amendment proposal submitted by the Democratic Party's Executive Committee on the 19th, which stipulates that "the party member vote shall take precedence over the resolution of the National Convention as the party's highest decision-making method." According to the amendment, △ matters concerning the dissolution and merger of the party △ agenda items initiated by more than 10% of the party members with rights through joint signatures, etc., can be decided by party member vote. Woo Sang-ho, the emergency committee chairman, told reporters after the emergency committee meeting on the 22nd, "The party constitution and regulations did not specify under what conditions and on what topics the party member vote would be held, so this was established."

Despite the party leadership's explanation, the establishment of the 'party member vote precedence' clause has become a hot issue within the party. Especially with Lee Jae-myung's election as party leader virtually confirmed at the upcoming August 28 party convention, non-Lee faction lawmakers, led by Park Yong-jin, are fiercely attacking the amendment as an attempt to create a 'Gaeddal (Lee's hardcore supporters) party,' making the party constitution revision a contentious issue.

Pro-Lee lawmakers likened the party member vote to a national referendum and expressed support for the amendment. On the 23rd, lawmaker Jung Cheong-rae posted on Facebook, "Lee Jae-myung's support rate in the 80% range is not privatization of the party, but President Yoon Seok-yeol privatizing the country with a 20% support rate is the problem. If the party member vote is a problem, is the national referendum also a problem? Let's speak correctly," drawing a clear line that the amendment is unrelated to Lee Jae-myung's 'private party' move.

Kim Jong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is presenting at the discussion titled "Beyond the 586, Pro-Moon, and Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party to the People's Democratic Party" held on the 23rd at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. From right to left: Representative Kim Jong-min, party leader candidate Park Yong-jin, Lee Won-wook, and Yoon Young-chan.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the other hand, non-Lee faction lawmakers raised concerns about defining the party member vote as the 'highest' decision-making method. Park Yong-jin, a candidate for party leader, posted on his Facebook on the 22nd, "It can nullify the National Convention, the Central Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Supreme Council," and argued, "If a basis for the party member vote is to be established, it should be done as a supplementary role to the representative system, just as the Constitution provides separate provisions for national referendums alongside the representative National Assembly."

Criticism was also raised that the party member vote could overrepresent the voices of some hardcore supporters. According to current party regulations, the party member vote is confirmed by at least one-third of the party members with rights voting and a majority approval. On the 23rd, lawmaker Jo Eung-cheon wrote on Facebook, "Compared to the constitutional requirements for a national referendum, the full party member vote system means that if just 10% of the 1.2 million party members unite, they can change anything, and the party constitution and regulations delegate the conditions for the party member vote, allowing it to be conducted almost without limits," and criticized, "In Korea, only the president and executive branch are needed, and the National Assembly is unnecessary; its role is to conduct frequent national referendums."

In response, pro-Lee lawmaker Yang Yi-won-young posted on Facebook on the 24th, "What about the voter turnout in past party leader elections? What about local election turnout? Does a president win by majority vote? Are those elections less important than the full party member vote?" arguing that criticism of the party member vote conditions is inappropriate. She added, "I think people are too scared of democracy. That might be why there was no answer to the public inquiry on party reform," directly criticizing Park Yong-jin, who is leading opposition to the establishment of the party member vote clause.

As opposition to the party constitution amendment grows, Woo Sang-ho, the emergency committee chairman, pointed out that attempts to link the party constitution with hardcore supporters are excessive. In an interview with TV Chosun's 'News Parade' on the 24th, Woo emphasized, "The party's routine operations are not decided by a full party member vote. It is only conducted on important matters that determine the party's fate," and added, "Basically, the Supreme Council and Executive Committee make major decisions, and more important matters are decided by the Central Committee. The leadership is not elected by party member vote. I don't understand what people are worried about," expressing his displeasure.

Meanwhile, Lee Jae-myung, the party leader candidate, has not made a clear statement regarding the establishment of the party member vote clause. At the party leader candidate broadcast debate on the 23rd, Lee said, "I have not seen the final proposal, so it is difficult to give an opinion," but added, "Basically, the more party member votes there are on important matters, the better."

The Democratic Party will hold a Central Committee meeting on the 24th to decide on the resolution of the party constitution amendment, including the establishment of the 'party member vote precedence' clause. This Central Committee meeting will be held remotely, and voting by Central Committee members will take place until 3 p.m. On the previous day, 25 non-Lee faction lawmakers held a forum titled 'Beyond the 586, Pro-Moon, and Lee Jae-myung Democratic Party to the People's Democratic Party' and requested Chairman Woo Sang-ho and Central Committee Chair Byun Jae-il to postpone the meeting, but the request was not accepted.

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