Jung Cheongrae's "One Person, One Vote System" Finally Approved... "Factions Within the Party Will Be Dismantled" (Comprehensive)

Approved by Central Committee Two Months After Initial Setback
"A Historic Era of One Person, One Vote Has Opened"

The core campaign pledge of Jung Cheongrae, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, the "one person, one vote system," was finally approved on the 3rd after an initial failure. Jung explained that the reform would effectively dismantle factions within the party and allow anyone to have an opportunity for nomination without having to read the room.

Jung Cheongrae, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea

The Democratic Party of Korea announced that, as a result of the Central Committee vote, the amendment to the party constitution introducing a one person, one vote system for delegates and dues-paying members passed on this day with the approval of a majority of incumbent members.

According to the party, 515 out of a total of 590 Central Committee members (87.29%) took part in the related vote held over two days, from the 2nd to the 3rd. Among them, 312 members (60.58%) voted in favor and 203 (39.42%) voted against, thereby meeting the requirements for approval.

This amendment was carried out as part of Jung's pledge to expand party members' sovereignty. Its core is to abolish the weighting previously given to delegates' votes in elections for the party leader and Supreme Council members (the national convention).

The amendment to the party constitution had been voted down at the Central Committee in early December last year. After that, Jung immediately pushed for it again, and it passed the Central Committee hurdle in just two months.

With the passage of this amendment, starting from the national convention in August, delegates and dues-paying members will each exercise an equal single vote. Jung explained that this makes it possible to realize party democracy in which the party leader and Supreme Council members are elected on a one person, one vote basis.

Immediately after the announcement of the Central Committee vote results, Jung held an emergency press briefing and stressed that "a historic one person, one vote era has opened for the Democratic Party of Korea." He added, "The most direct effect will be the dismantling of factions within the party."

Jung emphasized, "We are now in an era where party members decide nominations," and said, "The structure has been changed so that factions can no longer be formed to exercise benefits or vested interests over nominations."

He went on to say, "From now on, elected officials of the Democratic Party of Korea, including members of the National Assembly, local councilors, and heads of basic and metropolitan local governments, will no longer have to watch the mood of faction bosses or line up behind them."

He also said, "If they are recognized by party members, anyone will be able to have an equal opportunity for nomination," adding, "Rather than engaging in factional activities, they will become more devoted to legislative activities that meet the expectations of the public in order to win the hearts of party members and the people."

In addition, he said, "I feel a sense of fulfillment that I have been able to honor my first key campaign pledge from the national convention, the one person, one vote system, within my term," and added, "The Democratic Party of Korea can now realize broader and more equal democracy, a better democracy."

The amendment also includes supplementary measures for strategic regions such as Yeongnam. One of the two appointed Supreme Council member positions will be preferentially allocated to a strategic region, and votes from strategic regions will carry additional weight, with the specific ratio to be decided by the national convention preparation committee.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Central Committee also approved the agenda item on the central party's financial management plan and budget review. This item passed with 491 out of the 515 Central Committee members who voted (95.34%) in favor.

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