The Democratic Party of Korea's supreme council voted Friday to confirm Kwon Mi-gyeong and Jeon Yong-gi as nominated supreme council members. Three members aligned with former party leader Jung Chung-rae — Choi Min-hee, Lee Sung-yoon and Han Min-su — boycotted the vote. The party also completed its leadership appointments, naming Rep. Kim Won-i (second term, Mokpo, South Jeolla Province) as head of the strategic planning committee and former South Jeolla Province deputy governor for economic affairs Kang Wi-won as the party leader's political affairs director.
Chief spokesperson Park Sung-jun told reporters after the supreme council meeting, held at Gangneung City Hall in Gangwon Province, that the three council members "did not participate in the vote on the nominated supreme council members and left during the deliberation process."
Party leader Kim Min-seok had announced Thursday at a general assembly of lawmakers his intention to nominate Rep. Jeon Yong-gi (second term, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province) and Kwon Mi-gyeong, chairwoman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions' National Public Solidarity Labor Federation, as supreme council members representing youth and labor, respectively. Pro-Jung faction members pushed back, arguing that Kim had not consulted them in advance and had failed to hold the primary election for the youth supreme council seat he had promised during the party convention.
Park explained that nominated supreme council members are "nominated by the party leader, approved by the supreme council and then confirmed by the party affairs committee," adding that appointing two nominated members was "an inherent authority granted to the party leader to stably secure the party leader's leadership under a single collective leadership system."
Kim also addressed the issue at the open supreme council session Friday, saying he regretted that the party convention had not been structured to elect youth and women representatives alongside the five regular supreme council members. "I will begin discussions on revising the party constitution and rules so that youth and women can be fully represented at the next party convention," he said.
The supreme council also designated Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, Gangwon Province, North Gyeongsang Province and South Gyeongsang Province as strategic regions. Under Article 26 of the Democratic Party's constitution, at least one nominated supreme council member must come from a strategic region. Park noted that "there is no clear definition of strategic regions" and said the designation would be referred to the party affairs committee in connection with the selection of nominated supreme council members.
The appointment of Kwon as the labor-seat nominated member appears to have also factored in regional balance among the strategic areas. Kim noted that Kwon "was born in Yangyang, attended high school in Samcheok and graduated from university in Gangneung."
Park also announced political staff appointments under the Kim Min-seok leadership. Kim Won-i, named head of the strategic planning committee, is understood to have served as overall campaign manager during Kim Min-seok's party convention bid.
Rep. Jang Cheol-min (second term, Dong-gu, Daejeon) was appointed head of the public communications committee, and Rep. Yang Bu-nam (first term, Seo-gu, Gwangju) was named head of the legal affairs committee. Both appointments are to be finalized through supreme council consultation upon recommendation by the secretary-general. On Thursday, Rep. Moon Jin-seog (second term, Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province) was appointed senior deputy secretary-general, Rep. Ahn Tae-jun (first term, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province) as organizational deputy secretary-general, and Rep. Lee Jeong-heon (first term, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul) as digital strategy deputy secretary-general.
Rep. Min Byeong-deok (second term, Anyang, Gyeonggi Province) was named senior deputy chair for economic affairs on the policy committee, and Rep. Heo Yeong (second term, Chuncheon-Cheorwon-gun-Hwacheon-gun-Yanggu-gun, Gangwon Province) as senior deputy chair for social affairs. Reps. Heo Seong-mu (first term, Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province) and Park Hee-seung (first term, Namwon-Jangsu-gun-Imsil-gun-Sunchang-gun, North Jeolla Province) will serve as standing deputy chairs. All appointments are to be finalized through supreme council consultation upon recommendation by the policy committee chair.
Rep. Kim Gi-pyo (first term, Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province), a former prosecutor, was appointed head of the ethics and inspection corps, and Rep. Kim Hyeon (second term, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province) was named head of the education and training institute. Both are to be confirmed through supreme council consultation.
Former four-term lawmaker Choi Dae-seong was named head of the party leader's special advisory corps, Rep. Yun Jong-gun (first term, Anseong, Gyeonggi Province) as head of the general election preparation office, and former deputy governor Kang as the party leader's political coordination director. Kang is classified as a pro-Lee (Lee Jae-myung) figure and serves as a standing adviser to the Democratic Party National Innovation Council.
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