The National Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, the largest external organization of the Pro-Lee (친이재명) faction, has begun a full-scale 'expansion of forces'. It has launched a campaign to recruit 'innovation members' who pay an annual fee of 10,000 won. Although it aims to motivate voluntary participation from citizens to implement direct democracy, there are interpretations suggesting that it is intended to bolster the Pro-Lee faction ahead of a snap presidential election.
According to ChosunBiz's coverage on the 11th, the Innovation Committee has been recruiting innovation members since mid-last month. The condition for joining as an innovation member is an annual fee of 10,000 won. However, there are no voting rights in the highest decision-making body of the Innovation Committee, the Innovation Assembly, etc.
The Innovation Committee is currently aiming to recruit 50,000 innovation members. To encourage innovation member enrollment, it is actively sending text messages to large organizations for promotion. If their target is reached, they will gather 500 million won in sponsorship. Once the recruitment of regular members (with an annual fee of over 500,000 won), targeting 5,000 members, is completed, it will total over 3 billion won.
The Innovation Committee is referred to as the 'loyal organization' of Representative Lee. Initially composed of individuals without a base within the National Assembly, it emerged as an organization involved in decision-making during the last general election. Many individuals from the Innovation Committee received nominations and entered the National Assembly. During the proposal to impeach five prosecutors, including Vice Administrator Son Joon-sung, they pressured Democratic Party members by distributing a survey to publicly reveal opponents.
The text messages promoting the recruitment of innovation members include the content: 'It seems that the Democratic Party does not work as I wish, and there have been frustrating moments wondering if my local National Assembly member is doing their job properly. There is no need to wait any longer. The National Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party is here with you.'
The Innovation Committee plans to hold a nationwide launch ceremony immediately if the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol becomes certain. Currently, launch ceremonies are being held in various regions. The day before, the Gyeonggi Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party held its launch ceremony, and last month, launch ceremonies were held in Jeonbuk and Daejeon.
In political circles, there are interpretations that the rapid expansion of the Innovation Committee is related to Representative Lee Jae-myung's preparations for a snap presidential election. It is said that so-called 'true Pro-Lee' expansion is taking place. However, the Democratic Party maintains that the recruitment of innovation members is merely an effort to realize the 'direct democracy' that Representative Lee has recently emphasized, unrelated to preparations for a snap presidential election.
A Democratic Party official noted, 'The Innovation Committee is absolutely not considered an external organization of the presidential election headquarters,' adding that 'this is part of the political reform mentioned by Representative Lee recently. While previously, individuals with political experience served as regular members, the intention is to expand participation through innovation members.'