The Democratic Party Compresses Delegate Rules to Reflect Public Opinion by 20-30%... Countdown to Party Leadership Candidates' Candidacy Begins

20·30% Each with 3 Votes in Favor, Neck and Neck
Single Leadership System, Maintaining Separation of Party and Presidential Powers

The Special Committee on Amendments to the Party Constitution and Rules of the People Power Party decided on the last day of its activity period, the 12th, to reintroduce public opinion polls for the election of the party leader to reflect public sentiment and to maintain a single leadership system.

Yeo Sang-gyu, chairman of the People Power Party's Special Committee on Party Constitution and Rules, announced this conclusion at a press briefing held at 10:10 a.m. at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul.

The amendment proposal to the party constitution and rules prepared by the special committee on this day is scheduled to be reported to the party's Emergency Response Committee on the 13th. After approval by the Emergency Response Committee, it will be finalized upon passing the Standing National Committee and the National Committee.

Maintaining Single-Leadership System; Two Options for Reflecting Public Sentiment in Party Convention: 20% and 30%

The current single leadership system will be maintained. Chairman Yeo stated, "There were many discussions about single leadership, multiple leadership, and collective leadership systems. However, since the special committee will be active for only a short period before the party convention, it was the majority opinion that the new leadership should take the time to conduct thorough and in-depth discussions and make the decision."

Accordingly, the People Power Party plans to separately elect the party leader and supreme council members at the party convention likely to be held on the 23rd or 24th of next month. The party constitution and rules stipulating the separation of party leadership and presidential candidacy, requiring resignation from party positions 18 months before running for president, will also be maintained.

Since it was confirmed in the April 10 general election that party sentiment and public sentiment can differ, there was consensus that the 100% party member vote rule applied at the March 8 party convention last year should be reverted to a method including public opinion polls.

However, no conclusion was reached on whether the public opinion poll ratio should be 20% or 30%. Chairman Yeo explained, "Among the seven members including myself, three supported the 30% reflection plan, and among the remaining four, three supported the 20% reflection plan. One member remained neutral. We decided to submit two draft amendments to the party constitution and rules reflecting the '8 to 2 plan' and the '7 to 3 plan' respectively to the Emergency Response Committee."

Yeosangyu, Special Committee Chairman for the Revision of the Party Constitution and Rules of the People Power Party, is speaking at the first meeting of the Special Committee for the Revision of the Party Constitution and Rules held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 4th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Rivalry and Movements Against 'Eodaehan' by Ruling Party Leadership Candidates Intensify

Leadership candidates are cautious about announcing their candidacies but are actively moving behind the scenes. With the party convention rules and schedule set, their declarations of candidacy are expected to enter the final countdown. Amid a strong current within the ruling party favoring 'Eodaehan' (meaning 'Han Dong-hoon will be the party leader anyway'), lawmakers Na Kyung-won, Ahn Cheol-soo, Yoon Sang-hyun, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min are also mentioned as leadership candidates.

First, former Emergency Response Committee member Han Dong-hoon of the People Power Party has recently posted critical messages on social media for three consecutive days targeting Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, focusing on his judicial risks and repeatedly promoting the 'Lee caution theory.' On the previous day, Han posted on Facebook, "Since accomplices are receiving heavy prison sentences in related trials one after another, he knows well that he cannot be acquitted. Even if he forcibly runs and becomes president, according to the interpretation of Article 84 of the Constitution, those trials will proceed, and if a suspended sentence or heavier is confirmed, the election must be held again."

Article 84 of the Constitution states, "The President shall not be subject to criminal prosecution during the term of office except in cases of rebellion or treason." While the current president's criminal acts are not prosecuted during the term, there is controversy over whether criminal acts committed before the term can be punished during the presidential term.

Meanwhile, other leadership candidates are cautious about their candidacy but are firing shots at former committee member Han. Lawmaker Na Kyung-won said on Facebook, "That can only be expected in a Korea where the rule of law, common sense, and judicial independence are alive," adding, "They have already submitted a special prosecutor law to select even the warrant judge and are talking about judge selection systems. They are blatantly trying to completely subjugate the judiciary," targeting both Han and Lee.

Lawyer Ahn Cheol-soo also appeared on MBC radio the previous afternoon and criticized Han, saying, "You should present a vision to revive people's livelihoods for the public, not just unconditionally criticize the opposition."

Moreover, Lawmakers Na and Ahn are expanding their activities as active lawmakers by proposing first bills and holding seminars related to population crisis response and artificial intelligence (AI) industry promotion, respectively. Lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun recently proposed a special prosecutor law related to former President Moon Jae-in's wife Kim Jung-sook's visit to India and is conducting a conservative innovation grand seminar. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min is demanding reform by diagnosing and proposing solutions to various current issues as well as pointing out problems of the government and ruling party through university lectures and interviews.

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