Democratic Party lawmakers demand leader's resignation after election losses

A general meeting of South Korea's Democratic Party became a scene of internal turmoil as multiple lawmakers called for party leader Jeong Cheong-rae's resignation following significant losses in the recent local elections. The criticism extended to the nomination process, which was described as rough and insufficient.

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If we truly want to integrate and consolidate party power after the convention, we must resign even today. This applies not only to Chairman Jeong but also to everyone responsible for managing the convention election.

During the hour-long meeting, lawmakers voiced their discontent. Rep. Jang Cheol-min argued on Facebook that Jeong should resign "even today" to truly achieve party integration and consolidate power after the convention. Rep. Im Mi-ae cited precedents, noting that former leaders had resigned months before party conventions to demonstrate commitment to fairness. She urged Jeong to resign immediately to show his resolve for a fair convention.

Further criticisms emerged regarding the nomination process for regional candidates. Rep. Shin Jeong-hoon pointed to issues in the internal polls for the Honam region, attributing the unexpected success of independent candidates to the Democratic Party's "arrogant attitude" towards the region. Rep. Jeong Il-young, whose constituency is Incheon Yeonsu-eul, lamented the nomination of an unqualified candidate for district mayor, leading to electoral defeat, and stressed the need for humility.

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To show the will for a fair party convention, it is necessary to resign.

However, voices advocating for unity and opposing Jeong's immediate resignation also emerged. Rep. Choi Min-hee countered claims of a "crushing defeat" by highlighting the 12-4 win in metropolitan mayoral races. Rep. Kim Young-bae suggested that shouting and finger-pointing would not solve the problem, emphasizing the need for a proper evaluation of the local election results to formulate alternatives.

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We have won by uniting in history, and we have lost by dividing.

Jeong himself remained largely unresponsive to the resignation calls. In his opening remarks, he urged internal unity, stating, "We have won by uniting in history, and we have lost by dividing." He also invoked President Lee Jae-myung's past statements about the public ultimately leading politics and the president's frequent emphasis on internal unity. At a separate forum, Jeong praised President Lee, calling his existence a "constant of South Korea's national competitiveness," a remark seen as a response to criticism that he was distancing himself from the presidential office.

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The one-person-one-vote system is democracy itself. Democracy must be protected.