Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, former Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae, and Congressman Song Young-gil discussed their potential candidacies for the party leadership during a workshop held on July 3. They addressed various pressing issues, including the controversial one-person, one-vote system and the complete abolition of supplementary investigative rights.
During the workshop at the Dragon City Hotel in Yongsan, all three leaders responded cautiously to questions from reporters about their plans to run for the party leadership. Kim stated, "Regarding the announcement of my candidacy, it has been communicated today. I will confirm and announce it soon."
Jung and Song echoed similar sentiments, with Jung saying he is "deep in thought" and Song mentioning he is preparing a groundbreaking solution for youth unemployment, which he plans to present as part of his vision.
The leaders also shared their views on the contentious issue of supplementary investigative rights, which has caused internal conflict within the party. Kim expressed his support for abolishing these rights, stating, "This is not just my personal stance but a position organized at the government level. We should discuss this swiftly to ensure the abolition proceeds smoothly ahead of the launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Prosecution Service in October."
Jung emphasized that the abolition of supplementary investigative rights is a firm and unchanging principle. He argued, "If we grant prosecutors the authority to summon victims or perpetrators before charges are filed, it opens the door for additional, planned, or retaliatory investigations."
In contrast, Song suggested that the issue of supplementary investigative rights should be resolved through discussions with the government, stating, "It is not advisable to politicize this issue against the government in the context of the party convention."
The potential candidates also shared their thoughts on the one-person, one-vote system, which has previously caused friction within the party. Kim asserted, "The one-person, one-vote system is a settled issue. Since it has been implemented, we need to discuss comprehensive improvements while maintaining its original intent."
Jung explained the rationale behind giving weight to strategic regions like Yeongnam, which are traditionally seen as challenging for the party. He noted, "Since there are not many party members in strategic areas like Yeongnam, they might feel marginalized. We chose to give them additional weight to address this sense of alienation."
Song also expressed his support for the one-person, one-vote system, adding that he is exploring AI-based methods for party operations to enhance the party's commitment to member sovereignty.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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