"I Want to Rebuild a Proud Democratic Party"…Miae Lim Announces Supreme Council Candidacy

Candidacy Announced via Social Media

Pledges Political Reform and Deliberative Democracy

Vows to Build a Nationwide Party

Miae Lim, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, has declared her candidacy for the Supreme Council in the upcoming 8·17 party convention, putting forward the vision of the “Nationwide Democratic Party.” She has pledged political reform and the institutionalization of deliberative democracy as her main campaign promises.

On July 14, Assemblywoman Lim announced her bid for the Supreme Council via social networking service (SNS). Introducing herself as “a Democratic Party member from North Gyeongsang Province,” she stated, “Since being elected as a member of the Uiseong County Council in 2006, I have lived in North Gyeongsang under the Democratic Party banner.” She added, “There have been more days of defeat than of victory, but I took pride in the belief that because of our presence, the horizon of democracy in Korea has broadened and deepened.”

However, Assemblywoman Lim also expressed deep concern about the current state of the party. She said, “The Democratic Party has lost its way,” and voiced her desire “to rebuild the proud Democratic Party.” She criticized, “After the election, no one took responsibility and only discord remained. Members and supporters are divided. At a critical juncture when we must vigorously open up Korea’s future together with the Lee Jaemyung administration, the Democratic Party has lost its direction.”

Assemblywoman Lim emphasized, “I will confidently prove the party’s competence starting from North Gyeongsang, the stronghold of conservatism. I want to create a Democratic Party that embraces even Yeongnam and advances as a nationwide party. I also want to build a capable Democratic Party that firmly supports the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration.”

Mi Ae Lim, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea

Having entered the National Assembly advocating for electoral reform, Lim has put political reform and deliberative democracy at the forefront of her pledges. She said, “I want the Democratic Party to resolve longstanding political reform issues and lead Korea toward a better democracy. I hope to create a Democratic Party in which the opinions of our members, refined through deliberation, shape Korea’s future.” Regarding political reforms, she added, “The Democratic Party has promised political reform many times, but those promises have always been forgotten in the face of immediate interests. We cannot delay any longer. We must take the lead in broadening the single-member constituency system, introducing the runoff voting system, and reviving local party chapters in a substantial way.”

She also expressed a strong will to reform the party from within through deliberative democracy. She said, “The one-person, one-vote system has long been the direction the Democratic Party has pursued,” but noted that “the great collective intelligence of our members is being lost, as they are denied sufficient opportunity to discuss and coordinate, and are instead trapped in simple yes-or-no voting and a structure of conflict based on competing powers. We need deliberative democracy that goes beyond ‘mechanical voting’ and fosters communication and the development of alternatives. By institutionalizing deliberative procedures, I will demonstrate the dignity and integrative politics befitting a ruling party.”

Furthermore, she articulated her commitment to transforming the Democratic Party into a nationwide party. “Because of the dedication of our members in the Yeongnam region,” she said, “the party has been able to elect members of the National Assembly and local government heads in the PK region, and is now receiving over 30% support in the TK region. The party must provide full support so that the Democratic Party in Yeongnam leaves a legacy of both talent and achievement.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.