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People Power Party Attempts to Pass Direct Election for Local Chapter Chairmen Amid Internal Opposition
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Elections & Politics

People Power Party Attempts to Pass Direct Election for Local Chapter Chairmen Amid Internal Opposition

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The People Power Party is attempting to pass a resolution to change the selection method for local chapter chairmen to a direct election system.
  • Some party members worry the change could be used to oust specific factions, prompting calls for unanimous consent and a mixed voting system.
  • Opposition exists within the party, with many local chapters and lawmakers expressing opposition to the direct election proposal.

The People Power Party is moving to adopt a direct election system for its local chapter chairmen, a move aimed at reforming party leadership structures. The proposal, discussed in a Supreme Council meeting, seeks to replace the current appointment system with one involving party member and public votes.

For the victory of the general election in 2028, the reorganization and change of the local chapters are absolutely necessary.

โ€” Yang Hyang-jaSupreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja stated the necessity of reforming local chapters for future electoral success.

However, the party faces internal dissent. Some members fear the proposed changes could be weaponized to expel specific factions, leading to calls for a more inclusive decision-making process. Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja suggested a "unanimous consent" approach for the resolution and proposed a mixed voting system: 50% party member votes and 50% local resident polls. This, she argued, would prevent bias and misunderstandings.

If local chapters can be renewed through a vote of all party members or responsible party members in the respective region, that would be good.

โ€” Yang Hyang-jaSupreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja suggested a direct voting system for local chapter chairmen.

Further complicating the issue, the party leadership's push for direct elections has met significant resistance. A recent general meeting of lawmakers revealed a consensus against the direct election system. Similarly, out of 14 local chapters that responded to an opinion survey, nine expressed opposition to the direct election proposal. The party leadership is navigating these internal divisions as it seeks to finalize the new selection method.

To broadly reflect the opinions of voters, if we hold a primary election with 50% responsible party members and 50% local resident polls, we can eliminate controversies about bias or misunderstandings.

โ€” Yang Hyang-jaSupreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja proposed a specific voting mechanism to ensure fairness.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.