Lee's Democratic Party Revises Party Charter... Signal for Opposition-Led Political Realignment?

Leadership "Concerns Raised Over Party Charter Amendment Causing Division"
Non-Myeong "Pro-Myeong and Gaeddal Domination"... Decision Expected in December
Lee Nak-yeon Ignites New Party Talk, Becomes Focal Point for Non-Myeong Faction

The Democratic Party of Korea has finalized a party constitution amendment at its national convention to increase the value of votes from party members with voting rights and to strengthen penalties against incumbent lawmakers in next year's general election primaries, sparking fierce backlash targeting the 'Pro-Lee Jae-myung leadership' both inside and outside the party. As intra-party factional conflicts show signs of intensifying, former party leader Lee Nak-yeon outside the National Assembly is fueling speculation about a 'new party,' drawing attention to whether a political realignment initiated by the opposition will begin.

On the 8th, non-Lee Jae-myung faction lawmakers of the Democratic Party simultaneously criticized the party constitution amendment. Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon interpreted the reduction in the proportion of delegates in the MBC Radio program Kim Jong-bae's Focus this morning, saying, "I think it was intended with the reappointment of Lee Jae-myung as party leader in mind at the upcoming national convention right after the general election." Regarding the strengthening of penalties for incumbent lawmakers, he said, "It means that if you become disliked, you can definitely be adjusted." He especially criticized the voting process the day before, where two agenda items were bundled and voted on collectively, calling it "absurd" and directly stating, "It's like bundling the Seoul mayor and district mayors together and telling people to vote for both the People Power Party and the Democratic Party."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Kim Jong-min, classified as part of the reformist faction (non-Lee faction) and affiliated with 'Principles and Common Sense,' even hinted at a 'decision' regarding his political future. On KBS Radio Today, he said, "Until December, it will be a time to discuss how the party will change," adding, "When the time for reform passes and it becomes impossible to reform, whether it becomes a new party or another new attempt, I think a decision will be made." He also expressed concern, saying, "The delegate system was intended to encourage active party members to participate in decision-making, but now there is a high possibility that party decisions will be influenced too much by public opinion or trends at the moment."

Earlier, the Democratic Party passed a party constitution amendment at the Central Committee meeting the day before, increasing the weight of votes from party members with voting rights to three times the current level in the national convention that elects the party leader and supreme council members, and strengthening the deduction rate to 30% for the bottom 10% of incumbent lawmakers in the general election primaries.

Some within the party, including the non-Lee faction, are opposing the amendment, arguing that the Pro-Lee faction, which dominates the party mainstream, intends to disadvantage the non-mainstream in nominations and monopolize the next leadership through the amendment. They pointed out the increase in the value of votes from party members with voting rights, centered on the hardline supporters known as 'Gaeddal' (literally 'dog daughters').

'Principles and Common Sense' Launch Press Conference
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

This further fuels the 'new party formation theory' ignited mainly by figures who served as prime ministers during the Moon Jae-in administration. Former party leader Lee Nak-yeon has been making statements opposing the Pro-Lee leadership daily, rallying support. In an interview with YTN the day before, Lee questioned, "Polls show that about 30% of the public dislike both major parties, so if you force them to choose an answer only between the two parties, where should that 30% go?" He also said, "We cannot just keep delaying and putting on a show."

As Lee Nak-yeon, who has been demanding reform of the Lee Jae-myung leadership, mentioned a decision, there is an interpretation in political circles that the balance is tipping toward 'new party formation.' Especially if former Prime Ministers Chung Sye-kyun and Kim Boo-kyum, who also served under the Moon administration, join forces with Lee Nak-yeon to unite the non-Lee faction, there is a prospect that a split could occur ahead of next year's general election. However, Lee Nak-yeon cautiously denied plans for a meeting among the three, saying, "There is no such plan."

A Democratic Party leadership official said, "There are concerns that the party constitution amendment could become a trigger for division." He added, "Factional division is, in a way, a very natural phenomenon in politics," but also said, "The important thing is to unite around the values the party pursues and to reconcile differences of opinion, but I have received messages from some lawmakers that this is not going well."

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