The Democratic Party of Korea passed party leader Jung Chung-rae's pledge of the "one person, one vote system" at the Central Committee. It comes two months after it was voted down in December due to a lack of a quorum. With the system clearing the Central Committee, the party is expected to begin full implementation starting with the local elections in June.
Rep. Min Hong-cheol, who chairs the Democratic Party Central Committee, said at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 3rd, "On agenda item No. 2 (amendment to the party constitution for the one person, one vote system), 515 of the 590 Central Committee members took part in the vote, with 312 in favor, 60.58%, and 203 against, 39.42%. A majority of the full Central Committee approved it, so it passes."
The one person, one vote system changes the current reflection ratio between delegates and dues-paying members from "less than 20 to 1" to "1 to 1." However, through supplementary measures, a certain weighting will be given to votes in strategic regions such as Yeongnam.
Previously, the amendment to the party constitution for the one person, one vote system was submitted to the Central Committee on Dec. 5 last year but was voted down due to a lack of a quorum. However, Jung formalized a renewed push for the system last month, and it was resubmitted to the Central Committee in about two months. The Democratic Party conducted a poll of dues-paying members on the one person, one vote system from the 22nd to the 24th last month. Of 1,169,969 dues-paying members, 370,122 (31.64%) took part, and 85.3% supported it.
After the Central Committee meeting, Jung held a press briefing and said, "It may be late, but the Democratic Party of Korea is now realizing party democracy by electing the party leader and Supreme Council members with one person, one vote," adding, "I feel gratified that I can keep my promise to implement the one person, one vote system—what could be called pledge No. 1 at the party convention—within my term."
He added, "With the implementation of the one person, one vote system, the most direct effect will be the dismantling of factions within the party," and said, "There will be structural changes that prevent forming factions to gain advantages in nominations or to exercise vested rights over nominations."
Asked whether "the approval rate for the one person, one vote system fell at the Central Committee," he said, "Whether you win a soccer match 1-0 or 3-0, a win is a win," adding, "More than the details, greater meaning lies in the fact that the one person, one vote system passed and is being implemented."
Asked whether this meant "the largest in-party faction aligned with Lee Jae-myung should be dismantled," he said, "The president is the head of state representing all the people and the head of the executive branch," adding, "The Democratic Party is made up of comrades moving with the same mind for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration."