Representative Lee Kwang-jae of the Democratic Party delivers remarks after taking his oath at a plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 5th to elect the leadership for the latter half of the 22nd National Assembly. 2026.6.5 Yonhap News
Rep. Lee Kwang-jae of the Democratic Party criticized factional conflict surrounding the party’s next leadership race, arguing that “the Aug. 17 national convention must be made into a policy convention and a unity convention.” He proposed breaking the “running mate” practice between party leader candidates and supreme council member candidates, shifting instead toward appointing figures recommended by local governments or those who have worked in unfavorable regions.
Lee made the remarks Sunday on his social networking service (SNS), saying, “I express great concern over the division and conflict occurring ahead of the national convention.” He stressed, “The Democratic Party must open the path to the people’s victory,” adding, “We must create a path where the people’s lives become happier when the Democratic Party takes power.”
“For the Democratic Party to succeed, the Lee Jae-myung government, now in its second year in power, must succeed,” Lee wrote. “This national convention must absolutely be a policy convention that places the people’s lives at the center and engages in fierce debate, and a unity convention where the party becomes one.”
Lee said the “era of lineup conventions must be ended,” pointing out that the structure in which party leader candidates and supreme council member candidates pair up to run in elections should be abolished. “Lineups create factions and cliques, and ultimately shake even candidate nominations, the foundation of party democracy,” he said. “We must build a structure where the leader competes and is chosen on the leader’s own merit, and supreme council members on their own merit.”
He also proposed using the two appointed supreme council member seats designated by the party leader as allocations for local governments. The intent is to appoint the designated supreme council members based on recommendations from heads of metropolitan and basic local governments, thereby strengthening ties between local governments and the party and actively implementing local election pledges.
He also emphasized respect for party figures who have worked in unfavorable regions, including former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who narrowly lost the Daegu mayoral election. “We must accord the highest level of respect and give opportunities to comrades who have defended the party in unfavorable regions such as Yeongnam, continuing a lonely fight,” Lee said. “The Democratic Party must firmly promote those who have devoted themselves and sacrificed for the party.”
He added, “The more united the Democratic Party becomes, the more the Lee Jae-myung government can succeed,” and “Only then can we win greater trust from the people.”