The Democratic Party of Korea will begin its Aug. 1–17 convention tour primaries starting Aug. 1. The convention rules will reflect 70% from delegates and dues-paying members and 30% from a public opinion poll. Votes by delegates and dues-paying members will be reflected on a "one to one" basis.
Song Ok-joo, a Democratic Party lawmaker who serves as vice chair of the party's convention preparation committee, said at a meeting at the National Assembly on the 30th, "The overall reflection ratio will be 70% combining delegates and dues-paying members and 30% from the public, but by reflecting the votes of delegates and dues-paying members on the same basis, we more clearly implemented the principle of party member sovereignty."
This convention will introduce for the first time the "one person, one vote system" pushed by former leader Jung Chung-rae. The reflection ratio between delegates' and dues-paying members' votes had previously been tiered at "less than 20 to 1," but this time it will be applied equally.
The preparation committee also finalized the convention schedule. The national party members' convention will be held on Aug. 17 at the Daejeon Convention Center. The final winners for party leader and supreme council member will be determined there. The regional party members' conventions to reorganize regional committees are expected to be wrapped up by the 19th of next month.
Registration for party leader and supreme council candidates will be on the 16th–17th of next month, and the preliminary primary was set for the 21st of the same month. The city and provincial party tour primaries will be held in the following order: Aug. 1 in South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, Daejeon, and Sejong; on the 2nd in Ulsan, Busan, and South Gyeongsang; on the 8th in Jeju and Incheon; on the 9th in Gangwon, Daegu, and North Gyeongsang; on the 15th in North Jeolla and Gwangju in South Jeolla; and on the 16th in Gyeonggi and Seoul.