Alternatives and Future of the Opposition Discuss Party Reform..."Imperial Party Leader System Must Change"

Calls to Abolish the Party Leader Grow... "A Difficult Step in History"

Alternatives and Future Also Plans to Hold a Public Forum

The reform-oriented parliamentary group within the People Power Party, known as "Alternatives and Future," has identified the limitations of the party’s imperial leadership structure while examining ways to innovate the party. Discussions were held about separating the nomination authority, which is concentrated in the party leader, and overcoming the regional limitations centered in Yeongnam, with the aim of transforming into a metropolitan-based national party. Alternatives and Future plans to hold a public forum soon to develop concrete methodologies for these goals.

Photo from the breakfast meeting of the People's Power party's young faction 'Alternatives and Future' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 22nd. At the meeting, Rep. Hyungdoo Choi (left) gave a presentation on the topic of "How to innovate political parties." Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The need to improve the party leader’s monopoly over nominations and party affairs... “A national party must expand its metropolitan reach”

On July 22, Alternatives and Future held a breakfast meeting at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building to discuss strategies for party innovation and the expansion of conservatism to ensure a conservative party victory over the next ten years. The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament Dongjin Koh, Youngjin Kwon, Keon Kim, Sungwon Kim, Jungha Park, Seokjun Song, Sanghoon Ahn, Jaejun Woo, Yongwon Yoo, Sungkwon Lee, Yeonwook Jeong, Eunhee Cho, and Hyungdoo Choi.

Hyungdoo Choi, who gave the keynote presentation, examined the party structures of advanced democracies such as the UK, the US, Germany, and France and pointed out the limitations of Korea’s imperial party leader system. In particular, he noted differences from advanced democracies, such as the party leader’s control over the nomination management committee and strategic nominations, as well as the party leader’s monopoly over personnel and party affairs. He also emphasized the need to redefine core conservative values to increase the party’s appeal and reach.

The five key tasks for party innovation proposed were: ▲ complete separation of nomination powers and party leadership ▲ substantial restoration of regional parties (regional committees/district parties) ▲ redefining the party leader’s role from "authority" to "coordinator" ▲ shifting from an election-oriented organization to a “policy community” ▲ guaranteeing deliberative democracy and diversity within party membership. Importantly, the group highlighted the need for a national party and generational alliance, as well as a transparent and objective nomination system to cultivate talent.

Lee Sungkwon, the secretary of Alternatives and Future, told reporters after the meeting, “For the conservative party to win in the future, first, it must transform from a party focused only on conservative ideology into a national party. Second, rather than remaining a regional party based in Yeongnam, it must expand its metropolitan base and become a truly nationwide party.”

He added, “There were also reform suggestions regarding the transformation into a generational alliance party to represent the entire nation, discussions about leadership and party management systems, and ten proposed directions for policy reform.”

Alternatives and Future has decided to hold a public discussion forum soon to further concretize these proposals. They plan to create a space to discuss the direction toward an open national party that guarantees both party members’ participation and the sovereignty of the people. In addition, further forums will be held to discuss the path to becoming a nationwide party. Lee also explained, “Other aspects will also continue to be discussed in the future.”

The scene of the Supreme Council meeting held by the People Power Party at the National Assembly on the 20th

“The Ethics Committee should not become an entry point for party-wide disciplinary action... Abolishing the party leadership position is not an easy issue”

At the meeting, Lee addressed the issue of the voices of party hardliners being overrepresented within the Korean party system, stating, “There was concern about whether a party convention dominated by strong fandom could truly help the party become a national party, or rather, if it would become an obstacle.” He added, “This issue will continue to be addressed and discussed publicly as part of future party reform efforts.”

Regarding the party’s Central Ethics Committee meeting held this morning to discuss disciplinary measures for current members, Lee said, “It is the opinion of most members of parliament and party members that the Ethics Committee should not serve as a gateway to a phase of disciplinary action that undermines the unity of the party and fosters division and conflict. We will be watching the proceedings of today's Ethics Committee closely.”

As for proposals to abolish the party leader position while addressing improvements to the imperial party leader system, Lee pointed out, “This is not an easy issue in the history of Korean political parties.” He added, “We will continue to seek ways to mitigate the negative side effects of the current leadership system, and this is certain to become one of our core agenda items.”

Meanwhile, Supreme Council Member Jae-won Kim questioned the feasibility on YTN’s “Jang Sungchul’s News Myungdang” program, asking, “Is it realistically possible to abolish the central party or minimize it, abolish the party leader, and shift to a national committee system? When you consider whether all stakeholders would agree, at this stage it just isn’t practical.”

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