The Democratic Party of Korea held an emergency supreme council meeting late on the night of the 16th. It was to discuss whether Song Young-gil can run in the party convention.
The Democratic Party's party charter and rules include a "must have joined at least six months before the date of exercising rights" provision. It means the right to be a candidate (eligibility to run) is granted only after six months have passed since rejoining or joining. The same applies to those who left and then rejoined; the right to be a candidate is granted only after six months have passed since rejoining.
In the case of Song Young-gil, who declared a run for party leader in the Aug. 17 convention, he rejoined the Democratic Party on Feb. 27. Aug. 17, when the convention will be held, comes before six months have passed since Song rejoined. Under the party charter and rules, he is, in principle, not eligible to run.
In the past, former Democratic Party co-chair of the emergency response committee Park Ji-hyun was also unable to run in the 2022 convention because of this provision.
Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Institute for Democracy, who declared a run for supreme council member, also became ineligible as a candidate due to unpaid party dues.
There is a rule that, by decision of the party affairs committee, can exceptionally recognize candidacy even if the six-month prior membership requirement is not met, based on the party's strategic needs or consensus. At the emergency supreme council meeting held that day, they also discussed whether to grant an exceptional recognition of Song's eligibility to run in the party convention.
However, there is considerable opposition to allowing exceptions for Song and former deputy head Kim. Supreme Council member Mun Jeong-bok, aligned with the pro-Lee faction, told reporters after the meeting, "It failed 3–3. They say to grant an exception by a party affairs committee decision, but we opposed it as unfair."
Asked about the possibility that Song and former deputy head Kim will not be able to run, Mun said, "It will be 100% that way," adding, "If it were before candidate registration, we could, conceding greatly, consider it, but once registration has begun, it is not possible."
The Democratic Party plans to hold another closed-door supreme council meeting on the morning of the 17th to continue discussions. Chief spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun said, "Today was not a place to reach a conclusion but to share the situation," adding, "We have to decide whether there is eligibility to run or not. The conclusion will come tomorrow."