Lee Nak-yeon's New Party to Promote 'Collective Leadership System'... "Decentralization of Party Leader's Authority"

by Park Joonyi

Published 19 Jan.2024 18:49(KST)

Announcement of the Basic Direction for the Establishment of the Party Constitution

Former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Nak-yeon, who is promoting the new party 'Saeroun Mirae' (New Future), announced a party constitution that reduces the authority of the party leader.

Lee Seok-hyun, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and co-chairman of the founding preparation committee, stated at the 'Announcement of Basic Direction for Party Constitution Establishment and Public Opinion Gathering Meeting' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 19th, "Until now, the party leader has held imperial authority, which caused many problems," and added, "Authority should be distributed among several responsible committee members."

Saeroun Mirae will adopt a 'pure collective leadership system' as its leadership structure and change the title of 'Supreme Committee Member' within the leadership to 'Responsible Committee Member.' The pure collective leadership system elects the party leader and responsible committee members together, relatively reducing the party leader's authority. The current Democratic Party adopts a 'single collective leadership system,' which elects the party leader and supreme committee members separately, increasing the party leader's authority.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee, the former deputy chairman, explained, "The first-place winner in the election becomes the representative responsible committee member, and those ranked 2nd to 5th become responsible committee members," adding, "This will overcome the contradiction where supreme committee members were unable to participate in leadership discussions, and the party's capabilities will be concentrated."

Additionally, the party constitution includes ▲ direct election of the Ethics Tribunal Chairperson at the national party convention ▲ establishment of a 'Red Team' within the party ▲ delegation of internal election management to the Central Election Commission (CEC).