Democratic Party Supreme Council Member Urges Leader to Reconsider Appointed Positions

Tensions are rising within the Democratic Party following party leader Kim Min-seok's nominations for two appointed supreme council positions. Choi Min-hee, a supreme council member, has publicly urged Kim to reconsider his choices, citing a lack of prior consultation and procedural irregularities.

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There was no prior consultation with the supreme council, so I was momentarily taken aback.

Choi Min-hee stated that she was taken aback when Kim announced the nominations of Jeon Yong-gi, a lawmaker, and Kwon Mi-kyung, a labor union leader, during a party meeting. She pointed out that party regulations stipulate that appointed supreme council members must be nominated by the party leader and then approved by the supreme council, followed by confirmation from the party's standing committee. Choi emphasized that consultation with the supreme council should precede any such announcement.

Adding to the dissent, other supreme council members, identified as pro-Lee faction members, have also voiced concerns. They described the process as a "violation of party rules" and expressed regret over the "one-sided announcement," requesting that the proper procedures be followed.

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The current party constitution clearly states that appointed supreme council members are nominated by the party leader and confirmed by the supreme council's resolution and the standing committee's approval.

Kim Min-seok explained his decision by stating that the party's Secretary-General, Han Jeong-ae, advised against appointing a youth representative through a special election process. According to Kim, Han pointed out the potential for overlap and contradiction if a new youth supreme council member were to be elected simultaneously with the youth committee chairperson, given that the chairperson would automatically become a supreme council member. Kim stated he accepted this reasoning and deemed further discussion unnecessary.

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It is contradictory to simultaneously elect a youth supreme council member and a youth committee chairperson, as the elected youth committee chairperson would automatically become a supreme council member.