Preventing 'Sneaky Resignations'... Opposition Innovation Committee to Announce Reform Plan Including 'Reinstatement Restrictions' on the 21st of This Month

Second Innovation Proposal 'Preventing Evasive Party Withdrawal' Presented
Lawmakers and Party Members Gathering Opinions Through Contact
Kim Eun-kyung "If Innovation Proposal Is Not Accepted, Party Will Collapse"

The Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea has decided to institutionalize measures such as restrictions on rejoining the party to prevent so-called 'cunning resignations.' The Innovation Committee plans to prepare an innovation proposal containing accountability regulations for elected officials and party officers suspected of illegal activities and announce it on the 21st of this month to create an ethical party.

On the afternoon of the 12th, Kim Eun-kyung of the Democratic Party's Innovation Committee held a press briefing at the National Assembly and stated, "The Innovation Committee will organize innovation agendas around three main themes and sequentially announce completed innovation proposals including specific details."

Chairperson Kim Eun-kyung said, "It is necessary to institutionally define the party's responsibility for elected officials and party officers suspected of illegal activities," adding, "We must strengthen the party's ethics inspection team to prevent illegal acts by elected officials and party officers in advance, and establish a system that initiates investigations within the party when allegations of illegal activities are raised against party-affiliated elected officials."

She continued, "After allegations and investigations are made, the party should require that individuals do not resign from the party, and if they resign in defiance, it should be regarded as disciplinary evasion resignation, necessitating party-level measures such as restricting rejoining the party." She added that detailed plans would be explained through the innovation proposal announcement on the 21st.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the Q&A session, when asked about the scope of application, the Innovation Committee responded, "If necessary for the entire party, individual advice or recommendations may also be included," and added, "Basically, the Innovation Committee is approaching issues involving members who have already resigned or those still in the party with additional problems as a single case." They further explained, "Recommendations for those still in the party and under investigation may differ, but those who have already left are not exempt or excluded from application."

Alongside this, the committee presented directions for strengthening policy functions and preparing for the party's future through a 'Future Policy Strategy' and a 'Party Organization Modernization Plan' that reflects the opinions of party members and the public.

Regarding proposals reflecting the opinions of party members and the public, the Innovation Committee said, "Our task is to align the perspectives of party-centered and public-centered views so that they do not diverge," adding, "It is difficult to choose between public sentiment and party sentiment, and it can cause division; public sentiment can encompass party sentiment, and party members may have good innovation proposals." The committee also revealed plans to gather opinions by contacting party lawmakers and various groups nationwide.

They also stated that they would discuss measures to break down entrenched politics, such as reforming candidate nominations. The Innovation Committee explained that during a meeting with senior citizens, they received suggestions regarding candidate nomination criteria. Chairperson Kim cited examples such as "Never nominate someone who is inconsistent, and nominate candidates who can fairly compete against Yoon Seok-yeol and the People Power Party."

When asked whether the innovation proposals might not be reflected within the party, Chairperson Kim firmly stated, "If the leadership refuses to accept them, the Democratic Party will collapse," adding, "They must be feeling the pressure themselves, so I see this as a final power struggle." She continued, "The party said it is considering appropriate measures, but we still expect to responsibly deliver results, and since the Innovation Committee is still operating, I believe there is time."

Meanwhile, regarding Innovation Committee member Seo Bok-kyung's public criticism of controversial figures within the party at a previous Innovation Committee meeting, Seo explained, "The reason we hope these three individuals would be especially cautious is because it aligns with the direction of our Innovation Committee," adding, "It is not good that responsible senior lawmakers keep creating such situations."

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