The Democratic Party of Korea's largest outside group aligned with Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic National Innovation Council, is drawing attention in politics ahead of the local elections. That is because leading contenders for next year's local elections have been taking the stage one after another as lecturers in its own education program. In political circles, some are saying, "Isn't the pro-Lee faction effectively elevating the pool of candidates in the Seoul metropolitan area?" The Innovation Council drew a line, saying it was "an overinterpretation."
Since September, the Innovation Council has been running an education program called "The Innovation Political School." It originally launched as "Lee Jae-myung Political School," but changed part of the program name after controversy over "selling nominations for the local elections." At a lecture to be held on the 16th at the Osco Grand Ballroom in Cheongju, National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Choo Mi-ae (Gyeonggi Hanam A), former floor leader Park Chan-dae (Incheon Yeonsu A), and Seongdong District Chief Jeong Won-o will take the podium.
Coincidentally, all three are being mentioned as leading contenders for the Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Seoul mayoral races in the June 3 local elections next year. Representative Choo is being floated as a candidate for Gyeonggi governor along with Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon and Supreme Council member Kim Byung-joo. Former floor leader Park is said to be making a last-minute decision on whether to run for Incheon mayor. District Chief Jeong, the only three-term basic local government head from the Democratic Party in Seoul, has recently emerged rapidly as a strong contender for Seoul mayor.
In particular, Choo's lecture was finalized at the planning stage two months ago, but Park and Jeong were invited more recently. On the 19th of last month, Supreme Council member Jeon Hyun-hee also appeared as a lecturer, and Jeon is likewise among the contenders for Seoul mayor. That is why it is being interpreted as a "local-election-tailored lineup."
An Innovation Council official said, "Choo Mi-ae, Park Chan-dae, and Jeon Hyun-hee have all helped since the organization's launch," adding, "In particular, District Chief Jeong Won-o has stood out in the field of decentralization and autonomy, and that is the only reason for the invitation."
In political circles, there is a mood of not taking the Innovation Council's explanation at face value. Since its launch in June 2023, the Innovation Council has grown into the most influential group among the pro-Lee organizations by producing 35 winners in the 22nd general election. After the general election, re-elected and mid-career lawmakers also joined one after another, and it is said that the number of incumbent members currently affiliated exceeds 40.
Its moves are also accelerating ahead of the local elections. Together with about 1,000 students, many of whom are preparing to run in next year's local elections, the Innovation Council is pushing a "100,000 citizens interview" project. Each student will interview 100 local voters to gather opinions such as policy proposals, analyze them with AI, and derive common agendas and pledges for the local elections.
In mid-January next year, there is also a plan to hold a "graduation ceremony and declaration of candidacy by 1,000 innovation leaders" at the National Assembly. Recently, when Yoo Dong-cheol, co-chair of the Innovation Council, was cut off (excluded from the primary) in the Democratic Party's Busan chapter chair election, he publicly criticized Representative Jung Chung-rae, calling it an "unfair nomination." It was a sign that the internal "power struggle" was surfacing.
The ruling camp is also closely watching the Innovation Council's recent moves. This is because there is speculation that it may be mobilizing its organizational strength ahead of the local elections. A ruling camp official said, "The organizational power shown in the general election could be reproduced in the local elections."
However, there is also an assessment that, as the pro-Lee versus non-Lee dynamic has weakened since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, it will not be easy to wield the same influence as during the general election. Another ruling camp official predicted, "There is virtually no atmosphere now that being close to the Innovation Council is advantageous for nominations," adding, "Next year's local elections also have a pro-Lee-leaning structure, so the situation is different from the general election."