The Democratic Party of Korea has been plunged into infighting over introducing an elected youth supreme council member system. There are growing calls that an elected youth supreme council member is needed to reflect the voices of the "2030" young generation, but some supreme council members are opposing it, putting it at risk of being scrapped.
On the morning of the 10th, the Democratic Party held a closed supreme council meeting and engaged in heated debate over introducing an elected youth supreme council member system at the Aug. 17 party convention. Although the Party Convention Preparatory Committee (Jeonjunwi) decided the previous day to introduce the elected youth supreme council member system, opposition emerged at the supreme council meeting that day, and no conclusion was reached. The Democratic Party decided to convene the supreme council late that night to reach a conclusion, but because the supreme council members voicing opposition are unlikely to back down, it is effectively on the verge of being scrapped.
The Democratic Party introduced a youth supreme council member system in 2015 but abolished it in 2018. While some appointed supreme council member posts designated by the party leader were filled by youths, the explanation is that the difference between elected and appointed positions is like night and day.
Rep. Jeon Eun-su, a former appointed supreme council member, called a press conference on the 9th and said, "With a 'single appointed seat' benevolently bestowed by the party leadership, the independence and agency of youth politics cannot be guaranteed." The press release Rep. Jeon released advocating the introduction of an elected youth supreme council member system was joined by about 40 Democratic Party lawmakers.
The More and Better Future, a gathering of Democratic Party lawmakers, also issued a statement on the 9th, saying, "As a party that leads future agendas, the Democratic Party must reach out to young people first," and, "Since the Jeonjunwi has reached a consensus, we hope the supreme council will also respect and accept this decision."
Although dozens of Democratic Party lawmakers have rallied around the idea, the introduction of an elected youth supreme council member system is likely to fall through. At the supreme council, which holds the decision-making power, opposition is strong. Pro-Lee faction Supreme Council Member Moon Jeong-bok said, "Candidate registration is on the 16th, just around the corner—will ordinary young party members be able to prepare?" Moon added, "It's not that we shouldn't have a youth supreme council member, but there is also a way to do it as an appointed post."
Moon's argument is to maintain the current system as is. In response, pro-Lee faction Supreme Council Member Kang Deuk-gu countered, "Establishing a youth supreme council member is the spirit of the times for this party convention and a reflection of public sentiment confirmed in the last local elections," adding, "If we fail to capture the demands of the times, that party has no future."
The Democratic Party has been criticized for failing to properly reflect the voices of "2030" youths because the party membership is skewed toward the middle-aged and older. According to 2023 Democratic Party membership statistics, the "2030" generation accounts for 17.5%, while the "4050" generation accounts for 51.6%. Compared with the 2023 national population, in which the "2030" group is 25% and the "4050" group is 32%, the "2030" generation is underrepresented and the "4050" generation is overrepresented.
In political circles, attention is on the fact that all candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring for the Democratic Party's youth supreme council member are "pro-Lee." A Democratic Party official said, "It is regrettable that even the call to introduce a youth supreme council member to reflect the voices of the '2030' youths is being split into support and opposition depending on factional advantage."