Opposition Party on Edge Ahead of 'Nomination Rules' Reform Proposal... Cries of "Lee Must Step Down" vs Pro-Lee Faction Says "If Reform Is Right, Push Forward"

Innovation Committee to Announce Innovation Plan on the 10th
Possible Nomination Rule Penalty for More Than Three Terms in the Same Area
Tension Rises Between Pro-Myung and Anti-Myung Factions

As the Democratic Party of Korea prepares to announce its innovation plan, including the nomination rules, the conflict between the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction and the anti-Lee faction is intensifying. The plan is expected to include strengthened penalties for multi-term lawmakers in the same district, leading to discussions within the party about a possible 'nomination massacre.' The Innovation Committee continued its meeting late into the night on the 8th to coordinate work related to the innovation plan.

An Innovation Committee official told this outlet on the 9th, "We plan to announce the nomination rules and the delegate system on the 10th," adding, "We had various discussions, including related talks, late into last night." The official also said, "We are continuing the meeting today as well."

The Democratic Party Innovation Committee is reportedly preparing an innovation plan centered on imposing penalties on multi-term lawmakers during the nomination process and proposing the abolition or reduction of powers of the delegate system. The official explained, "All issues are critical," adding, "It is still undecided how to handle the nomination criteria and penalties for multi-term lawmakers." Although there were expectations that the innovation plan might be announced the previous day, the announcement has been postponed to the 10th due to disagreements within the Innovation Committee.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Even though the Innovation Committee's plan has not yet been released, the party is already in turmoil. When it became apparent that the Innovation Committee would revise the nomination rules, the anti-Lee faction reacted strongly. The core concern is that they are trying to massacre the anti-Lee faction. Lee Won-wook, a three-term Democratic Party lawmaker, said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' program, "From the moment the Innovation Committee's list was announced, it was clear that it was a pro-Lee-dominated committee. There were concerns about whether it would work like that," adding, "(Despite the controversy over Kim Eun-kyung, the chairwoman of the Innovation Committee) Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, has not made a statement because if he apologizes, it would lead to the dissolution of the Innovation Committee. Instead, he wants to strengthen the influence of the 'Gaeddal' (Lee's hardcore supporters) and revise the nomination system to massacre the anti-Lee faction during nominations."

Concerns were also raised about revising the nomination rules that had already been finalized through a party member vote. Lee said, "The nomination rules are originally supposed to be finalized a year in advance," adding, "In line with this, lawmaker Lee Gae-ho was appointed head of the Nomination System Task Force and finalized the rules, so is it right to revise them again?" He argued, "The repeated attempts to revise the nomination rules seem to be groundwork for a massacre of anti-Lee faction lawmakers."

Calls for Lee Jae-myung's resignation were also voiced. Lee said, "The people who most want Lee's leadership to continue are the People Power Party," emphasizing, "Lee should step down as party leader." He also expressed distrust in the emergency committee system that Lee would appoint and stated that a party convention should be held to form a new leadership structure.

On the other hand, the pro-Lee faction is taking a wait-and-see approach to the innovation plan's content, arguing that those opposing innovation are likely vested interests.

Park Sung-joon, a Democratic Party lawmaker and party spokesperson, said, "For some, it is innovation, but for others, it could be a deterioration," adding, "The starting point of innovation is the vested interests and malpractices that the existing political circles have enjoyed. To pursue new politics, bold innovation is necessary." He continued, "Those targeted by innovation will inevitably resist because they will bear the consequences," and added, "The most important thing is whether the direction of innovation is right. If the direction is correct or meets the demands of the times, wouldn't public opinion form that this is reasonable?" In other words, if the Innovation Committee's direction gains support from the public and party members, it would be sufficient justification for its implementation.

Kim Young-jin, the chief political coordinator for Lee Jae-myung and a Democratic Party lawmaker, said on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' regarding the anti-Lee faction's concerns about a nomination massacre, "I do not see the Innovation Committee as one that follows anyone's orders," adding, "The Innovation Committee discusses and proposes based on its own principles and standards, so it is not anyone's commanded innovation. This is an excessive misunderstanding."

However, both sides are cautious about the possibility of a party split or a catastrophic outcome. Regarding the innovation plan, Lee said, "If the general assembly accepts it by majority vote, it should be accepted," adding, "If it is unreasonable, it should be withdrawn." Kim also predicted, "I do not think the Innovation Committee will provide a mechanism to carry out a nomination massacre," and said, "I expect it to propose reasonable measures."

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