Democratic Party Leans Toward Parallel Structure... Voices of 'Regression' Also Emerge Within the Party

Lee Jae-myung's "What's the use of losing stylishly" remark stirs controversy
Opposition faction says "If ruling party ignores promises to win..."

Amid heated debates within the Democratic Party of Korea over electoral system reform, Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, hinted at a return to the parallel proportional representation system, stating, "What good is it to lose stylishly?" Pro-Lee (pro-Lee Jae-myung) factions and close aides of Lee also made remarks suggesting a 'return to the parallel system,' which has sparked growing criticism of 'regression' mainly from anti-Lee factions.

The 'Principles and Common Sense' group, a gathering of anti-Lee lawmakers, raised their voices on social media (SNS) on the 29th, saying, "We must not regress in the electoral system," and criticized, "Is it acceptable to ignore resolutions or promises made just to protect vested interests, to wear a lawmaker's badge one more time, and to use any means possible to try to defeat the People Power Party?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

They define the return to the 'parallel proportional representation system' as regression and urge maintaining the current mixed-member proportional representation system and enacting laws to prevent satellite parties. They emphasize that Lee must keep his promise made during his presidential candidacy to maintain the mixed-member proportional representation system. However, Lee hinted at a return to the parallel system during a YouTube live broadcast the previous afternoon, saying, "Elections are about winning, so what good is it to make idealistic claims stylishly?"

Pro-Lee figures also made statements that could be interpreted as supporting a return to the parallel system. Jin Seong-jun, a pro-Lee Democratic Party lawmaker, said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that "I think many lawmakers hope for a return to the parallel system," adding, "Through this general election, we must definitely stop the incompetence, irresponsibility, and historic regression of the Yoon Seok-youl administration. That is the national demand. But it is hard to accept that we would create an electoral system with our own hands that would lead to the exact opposite result."

He argued that if the system does not return to the parallel system, it would only mean "giving Democratic Party seats to minor parties." He said, "Modern politics is party politics, but some lawmakers affiliated with the Democratic Party keep insisting that multiparty systems are the best and want to reduce the Democratic Party's seats to allow more minor parties to enter the National Assembly. Isn't that self-contradictory? Then why are they affiliated with the Democratic Party and working for its victory?"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Kim Young-jin, the party leader's chief political coordinator and a close aide to Lee, said, "I think everything is open for discussion now," but added, "I see the electoral system as the rules of the game agreed upon by both major parties, the ruling and opposition. Interpreting the rules as 'if it's not this, it's bad, it's electoral evil' solely from the Democratic Party's values and direction is not appropriate."

The People Power Party is calling for a 'return to the parallel system,' but the Democratic Party cannot simply label this as 'electoral evil.'

In response, Principles and Common Sense criticized, "Not only are they changing their words and breaking promises, but now they openly intend to go backward. What have we done during that long 1 year and 9 months?" As noise grew over electoral reform, the Democratic Party postponed the scheduled parliamentary meeting on the electoral system reform by one day.

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