Pro-Myeong Innovation Committee Moves to Seize National Assembly Through 'In-House Organization'

31 Elected... Emergence of 'Largest' Intra-Party Lawmaker Group
Forming Own Lawmaker Team for Placement... Setting Speaker Criteria
Kim Wooyoung "People Over Factions, Until Regime Creation"

The Democratic Party's progressive support base has expanded its influence through the Democratic Party National Innovation Council (hereafter Innovation Council), which has produced 31 elected members and is aiming to organize within the National Assembly. Centered around leader Lee Jae-myung, the pro-Lee faction is solidifying its influence while planning to shift the goal from 'regime judgment' to 'regime creation.' The Innovation Council has also taken control, stating it will present the 'criteria' it desires for the next Speaker of the National Assembly.

According to the Innovation Council on the 30th, 50 candidates were nominated in the 22nd general election, with 31 elected. The Innovation Council is an external organization launched in June last year, mainly composed of close aides who have worked with leader Lee Jae-myung since his time as Governor of Gyeonggi Province. Through nationwide organization, it has grown in size and, within 10 months of its launch, has become the largest 'in-house organization' within the party. The previous largest group was The Better Future (Deo Mirae), composed of lawmakers with less factional color, but many were pushed out during the nomination and general election process.

From Outside to Inside the Assembly... Separate Operation of Lawmakers and Committees

At the meeting discussing the evaluation of the general election and organizational prospects held on the 29th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building by the Democratic Party of Korea National Innovation Committee, attendees are performing the national ceremony. From the left: Representative-elect Chu Mi-ae, Representative Woo Won-shik, Kang Wi-won, Political Affairs Special Advisor to the Party Leader, Jeong Seong-ho, and Representative Park Chan-dae. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Innovation Council is aiming to expand its power through 'in-house organization.' It plans to form its own 'lawmakers group' and establish sector-specific committees. In addition to the National Assembly's standing committees, it intends to operate committees on agriculture, education, health, and more independently. Ostensibly, this is to allow party members' opinions to be more directly reflected, but it is expected to serve as a foundation for the Innovation Council to exert leading influence in each standing committee.

Kim Woo-young, the standing representative, said when asked about the Innovation Council's future plans, "We will establish a lawmakers cooperation group so that the ruling will of ordinary party members can be realized in the National Assembly." He added, "We have resolved to launch the second term of the Innovation Council on June 1. While clearly defining its character as a political organization led by ordinary members to create the next regime, it will become a political community centered on the people rather than factions."

Expansion of the organization encompassing both inside and outside the Assembly was also announced. Co-representative Kang said about the 'organization operation plan,' "The distinction between inside and outside the Assembly organizations will disappear. We plan to reorganize the standing operation committee system and expand the 17 city and provincial organizations into 226 city, county, and district organizations, as well as community-based village organizations." He further explained, "Since this is a political organization rather than a simple mass organization, we will establish a 'special committee for organizational strengthening' and move to a system where appointments are made from above after reviewing whether there is actual political influence, rather than recommendations from below as in the past."

Full-Scale Display of Power... "We Will Present Criteria for the Next Speaker"

At the meeting held on the 29th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to discuss the evaluation of the general election and organizational prospects of the Democratic Party's National Innovation Committee, participants are shouting slogans. From the left: elected representative Choo Mi-ae, lawmaker Woo Won-shik, Kang Wi-won, the party representative's political special advisor, Jeong Seong-ho, and lawmaker Park Chan-dae. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Innovation Council boldly displayed its power by holding a meeting of elected members at the National Assembly Members' Office Building the day before. Candidates Woo Won-sik, Jung Sung-ho, Cho Jung-sik, and Chu Mi-ae, who declared their bids for the 22nd National Assembly Speaker for the first half, and former Supreme Council member Park Chan-dae, who ran unopposed for floor leader, gathered with about 100 people. Leader Lee Jae-myung reportedly had dinner with Innovation Council-affiliated first-term lawmakers after his summit meeting with President Yoon Seok-youl.

Having led sensitive issues such as 'incumbent replacement' ahead of the general election, the Innovation Council is expected to exert influence on the selection of the next Speaker of the National Assembly. Co-representative Kang said, "First, we will complete the election of the floor leader and then strongly announce the criteria for the Speaker to move toward an innovative and reformist National Assembly." He explained, "This is not aimed at any specific candidate but will present several criteria regarding direction."

The 'criteria' presented by the Innovation Council are likely to become a gauge that determines who will be elected as the next Speaker. Candidates who have already declared their bids emphasize 'the Democratic Party's legislative achievements' over 'mechanical neutrality,' engaging in a competition of clarity. According to the National Assembly Act, the Speaker must abandon party affiliation and guarantee balance and political neutrality encompassing both ruling and opposition parties, but the trend is that the key criterion is who can work well with leader Lee Jae-myung.

More Distinct Pro-Lee Colors... Will Lee Be Re-elected as Party Leader?

Most of the elected members have strong progressive or pro-Lee colors. The 'Daechang-dong legal team,' including elected member Kim Dong-a, was elected, and Mo Kyung-jong, who has assisted leader Lee since his time as governor, was also elected. Several figures at the center of controversy are included. Standing representative Kim Woo-young caused controversy by declaring his candidacy in Seoul Eunpyeong-gu while maintaining his position as Gangwon Province Party Chairman. Elected member Yang Moon-seok, who was embroiled in allegations of illicit loans under his college-aged daughter's name, Kim Jun-hyuk, criticized for past remarks related to claims of sexual bribery involving US troops at Ewha Womans University, and Jeong Jun-ho, who faced illegal election allegations during his candidacy, are also members of the Innovation Council. Among incumbents, lawmakers Min Hyung-bae, Kim Yong-min, and Kang Deuk-gu, known as 'strong pro-Lee faction,' are listed.

Co-representative Kang left open the possibility of leader Lee Jae-myung's 're-election as party leader.' Kang said, "The leader does not have a strong will to be re-elected," but added, "If the party shakes without re-election, there could be talk that 'you caused the risk by stepping back.'" He continued, "After the Speaker election, we will clearly state our position on re-election or deferment, unlike the ambiguous Yeouido conventions."

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