Concerns Over Overrepresentation of Supporters in Strong Regions Like Honam, Threat to National Party Base
Interpretation as a Move for Reelection by Representative Jeong… Focus on the Forced Passage of ‘Party Constitution and Regulation Amendment’ Today, ‘There is growing concern both inside and outside the party that the amendment to the party constitution and regulations led by Democratic Party Representative Jeong Cheong-rae, which introduces the one-person-one-vote system, will undermine the base of the national party. Amid interpretations that this system serves as a stepping stone for Rep. Jeong’s re-election, attention is focused on whether he will push for a decision on the amendment at the party’s executive committee on the 24th.’,
Kang Deuk-gu, a lawmaker who served as the senior deputy secretary-general under former leader Lee Jae-myung, expressed public concern about the current discussions on the amendment on Facebook on the 23rd, stating, “The completion of a national party is as important as realizing party members’ sovereignty.”
Kang stated, “The delegate system is not simply a ‘vested interest structure,'” and added, “It contains strategic supplementary measures that our party has accumulated to maintain regional balance and the foundation of a national party.” He warned, “If we abolish the purpose of these supplementary measures just to adopt the one-person-one-vote system, it would be a hasty reform that harms our party’s history, identity, and values.” Kang urged the leadership to create a balanced supplementary plan of ‘one-person-one-vote+@’ that realizes both party member sovereignty and a national party. He added, “Legitimacy is more important than speed, and balance and future design are more important than superficial change.”
Concerns have been voiced within the party that the amendment will overly represent voices from regions traditionally supportive of the Democratic Party like Honam, while distorting voices from weaker regions like Yeongnam. Rep. Yoon Jong-kun, a former party official, wrote on Facebook, “The TK region accounts for just over 2% of the total voting members, and the whole Yeongnam region accounts for less than 10%. This creates an issue of severe underrepresentation compared to the general electorate. There is also a significant concern that the sense of belonging and pride among Yeongnam members may weaken.” He emphasized that alternatives to revitalize party activities and enhance pride among members in the Yeongnam region should be discussed together.
The Innovation Council of the Democratic Party, a representative pro-Moon organization, issued a critical statement the previous day. The council stated, “While the intention is good, the manner of gathering opinions, procedural legitimacy, and timing makes members erupt with self-deprecating voices asking if it has to be done this way.”
However, opinions also suggest that the delegate system, as it was in the past, is no longer effective given the significant increase in party members (1.64 million), and activities now being more online-centered. A Democratic Party lawmaker from the Yeongnam region stated, “(Looking at recent elections) ultimately, even delegates align with the general atmosphere of voting members now,” and added, “I feel that the distortion of opinions in regions with fewer members can now be overcome.”
The political interpretation that the one-person-one-vote amendment is a strategy for Jeong’s re-election, where support from voting members is strong, further complicates the discussion.
Another Democratic Party lawmaker commented, “During Lee Jae-myung’s leadership, the one-person-one-vote system was already organized, but it seems to become a target of attack due to timing that can cause misunderstandings,” and added, “Wasn’t Jeong’s support among voting members lower than among delegates at the time of his election?” On that day, Jeong emphasized on Facebook that the one-person-one-vote system had been promoted since Lee Jae-myung’s term, and stated that “the one-person-one-vote system guaranteed by the Constitution for fair elections is an urgent party democracy task,” urging members to respond to it in the era of national sovereignty. The amendment to the party constitution and regulations will be finalized after decisions by the executive committee on the 24th and the central committee on the 28th.