The Democratic Party of Korea said a survey of party members on a proposal to revise the party constitution and rules to significantly strengthen the authority of dues-paying members showed approval rates topping 80% for all three items. Turnout was 16.8%.
According to the vote results the Democratic Party released on the afternoon of the 20th, the "one person, one vote system," which gives equal weight to the votes of delegates and dues-paying members when electing the party leader and Supreme Council members, recorded 86.8% in favor. Opposition was 13.2%.
A plan to change the method of ranking proportional representation candidates at basic and metropolitan levels in next year's local elections from selection by standing committee members at each level to a "100% vote by dues-paying members" showed 88.5% in favor and 11.5% against.
A plan to hold a preliminary primary by a 100% vote of dues-paying members when there are four or more local election candidates was also tallied at 89.6% in favor. Opposition was 10.4%.
The Democratic Party conducted the party member opinion survey over two days from the previous day through that day. The subjects were "dues-paying members who paid dues for the month of Oct.," totaling 1,645,061 people. Turnout was 16.81% (276,589 people).
Based on all eligible voters, approval rates for the three items (one person, one vote system; changing the selection method for basic and metropolitan proportional representation; introduction of a preliminary primary) were 14.5% (240,116 people), 14.8% (244,786 people), and 15% (247,754 people), respectively.
The somewhat low turnout appears to reflect fallout from controversy after the Democratic Party initially said it would hold a "vote of all members," then reversed to an "opinion survey" when criticism arose that it conflicted with party rules granting voting rights to "members who have paid dues for six months or more." Inside and outside the party, there is also discontent that this attempt to amend the rules is advance work with party leader Jung Chung-rae keeping in mind a bid to extend the party leadership next year.
The Democratic Party plans to finalize the party constitution and rule amendments on the three items based on the vote results after resolutions by the Party Affairs Committee and the Central Committee.
Chief spokesperson Park Soo-hyun said in a briefing, "Today's high participation is the resolute determination of each and every one of our party members to move toward a party in which each member is the true owner," adding, "The party leadership will take the results of this opinion gathering with the utmost seriousness. In the resolution processes of the Supreme Council, the Party Affairs Committee, and the Central Committee, we will fully reflect the will of the party members."
However, controversy arose during the voting process, and because the plan would greatly expand the authority of dues-paying members, there are also expectations that a backlash could emerge in the Central Committee, which consists of members of the National Assembly, heads of local governments, and regional chapter heads.