2020 Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015) leadership election

The Democratic Party held a leadership election on 29 August 2020.[1][2] It was the second leadership election since the inauguration of President Moon Jae-in. Although an elected leader serves for the fixed two-year term, the newly elected leader Lee Nak-yon is unlikely to serve for two years due to his presumptive presidential campaign in 2022.[3][4]

2020 Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015) leadership election

← 2018 29 August 2020 2021 →
 
Candidate Lee Nak-yon Kim Boo-kyum Park Joo-min
Delegates 57.20% 29.29% 13.52%
Party members 63.73% 14.76% 21.51%
Opinion poll 64.02% 13.85% 22.14%
Non-voting members poll 62.80% 18.05% 19.15%
Total 60.77% 21.37% 17.85%

Leader before election

Lee Hae-chan

Elected Leader

Lee Nak-yon

Background

edit

Landslide victory of 2020 General Election

edit

In 2020 South Korean General Election, The Democrats, led by Lee Hae-chan, won the majority in the National Assembly by landslide. The Democratic Party and its affiliate Party, Platform Party, won 180 seats (60%) in the 300-seat Assembly. It was the biggest majority since the democratization of South Korea after the June Struggle in 1987. It was an endorsement of President Moon Jae-in's COVID-19 response that got a good reputation worldwide.[5]

Coronavirus

edit

Due to the continued impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the Democratic Party National Convention Preparatory Committee decided to hold a national convention online to elect its leadership. The Democratic Party originally planned an event in Jamsil Olympic Stadium in which about 600 members of the Central Committee attended, but it changed to an online event due to concerns about second wave of COVID-19. Eventually, the party decided to allow only about 50 candidates and staff at the Democratic Party's headquarter and broadcast the results of the election as well as the acceptance speech on the Internet on 29 August 2020.[6]

Candidates

edit

Candidates for leader

edit

Nominated

edit
# Candidate Born Political Office Campaign Announced
1  
Lee Nak-yon
December 20, 1951 (age 72)
Yeonggwang, South Jeolla
41st Prime Minister of South Korea (2017–2020)
37th Governor of South Jeolla (2014–2017)
Member of the National Assembly (2000–2014, 2020–present)
 
지금!이낙연
(Now!Lee Nak-yon)
7 July 2020[7]
2
 
Kim Boo-kyum
January 21, 1958 (age 66)
Sangju, North Gyeongsang
Minister of the Interior and Safety (2017–2019)
Member of the National Assembly (2016–2020)
 
책임지는 당대표
(Responsible Leader)
9 July 2020[8]
3  
Park Joo-min
November 21, 1973 (age 51)
Seongbuk, Seoul
Member of the Democratic Party Supreme Council (2018–2020)
Member of the National Assembly (2016–present)
 
국민과 함께 두려움 없이
(With the people, fearlessly)
21 July 2020[9]

Candidates for Supreme Council

edit

Nominated

edit
# Candidate Born Political Office Campaign Slogan[10] Announced
1 Shin Dong-kun 22 December 1961
Seo, Incheon
Member of the National Assembly (2016–present)
Whip of the Democratic Party (2018–2019)
Vice Chairman of the Policy Planning Committee (2016–2017)
민주당 왼쪽 미드필더
(Left Midfielder of Democrats)
22 July 2020[11]
2 Yeom Tae-yeong 25 July 1960
Hwaseong, Gyeonggi
Mayor of Suwon (2010–present)
Chairman of the National Association of Mayors (2019–2020)
기초가 든든한 100년 민주당
(Well-founded century Democrats)
20 July 2020[12]
3 Yang Hyang-ja 4 April 1967
Hwasun, South Jeolla
Member of the National Assembly (2020–present)
Director of the National Human Resources Development Institute (2018–2019)
Chairwoman of the Democratic National Woman's Committee (2016–2018)
한 표는 경제에
(One vote for the economy)
21 July 2020[13]
4 Han Byung-do 7 December 1967
Iksan, North Jeolla
Member of the National Assembly (2004–2008, 2020–present)
Senior Political Officer of the Office of the President (2017–2019)
대통령을 지킬 한 표
(One vote to protect the president)
21 July 2020[14]
5 So Byeong-hoon 3 June 1954
Gunsan, North Jeolla
Member of the National Assembly (2016–present)
Vice Chairman of the Policy Planning Committee (2015)
소확행
(Small but sure Happiness, SSH)
21 July 2020[15]
6 Noh Woong-rae 3 August 1957
Mapo, Seoul
Member of the National Assembly (2004–2008, 2012–present)
Secretary-Geneal of the Democratic Party (2014)
무한책임 일편黨心
(Infinite commitment,
a sincere heart for the party)
20 July 2020[16]
7 Lee Won-wook 20 March 1962
Boryeong, South Chungchoeng
Member of the National Assembly (2012–present)
Whip of the Democratic Party (2019–2020)
민주당 답게! 흔들림 없이!
(Like a Democrat! Without wavering!)
19 July 2020[17]
8 Kim Jong-min 12 May 1964
Nonsan, South Chungcheong
Member of the National Assembly (2016–present)
Vice Governor of South Chungcheong (2010–2011)
Whip of the Democratic Party (2018–2019)
Vice Chairman of the Policy Planning Committee (2016–2017)
Spokesman of the Cheong Wa Dae (2004–2005)
정권재창출 반드시 해내겠습니다
(Make sure to win again)
21 July 2020[18]

Eliminated

edit
Candidate Born Political Office Campaign Slogan Announced
Lee Jae-jung 2 August 1974
Daegu
Member of the National Assembly (2016–present)
Spokeswoman of the Democratic Party (2018-2020)
Vice Chairman of the Policy Planning Committee (2017–2018)
당신을 빛나게 하는 힘!
(The power that makes you shine!)
17 July 2020[19]
Cheong Kwang-il

In the election of the Supreme Council, 10 people were running, so the party had to eliminate 2 candidates and held the final election with the remaining 8 candidates according to the rules. On 24 July 2020, the Democratic Party held a caucus for the election of the party's Supreme Council by on-site and online voting. About 660 members of the Central Committee participated in the vote. As a result of the vote, Lee Won-wook, Noh Woong-rae, Kim Jong-min, So Byeong-hoon, Shin Dong-kun, Han Byung-do, Yang Hyang-ja, and Yeom Tae-yeong were nominated. However, the ranking and number of votes for each candidate were not released. Of the eight nominated candidates, five are finally elected through elections held at the National Assembly on August 29. In addition, under the party's rule, at least one elected member of the Supreme Council shall be a woman. Yang Hyang-ja was the only remaining female candidate, so she was virtually elected as the Supreme Council member.[20]

Those who announced that they will not run for this election

edit

Debates

edit

Televised debates

edit
No. Date and time Location Programme Broadcaster Candidates Link
 P  Participant     A  Absent invitee    O  Out of race (eliminated or withdrawn)    N  No debate Lee Nak-yon Kim Boo-kyum Park Joo-min
1 July 29, 2020; 18:00 Daegu 민주당 당대표 후보 TV 토론회 (Democratic Leadership Debate) Daegu MBC P P P YouTube
2 July 31, 2020; 18:20 Busan 더불어민주당 당대표 후보자 초청 토론회 (Democratic Leadership Debate) Busan MBC P P P YouTube
3 August 6, 2020; 22:00 Jeonju 더불어민주당 당대표 후보 토론회 (Democratic Leadership Debate) Jeonju MBC P P P YouTube
4 August 7, 2020 Gwangju 더불어민주당 당대표 후보자 초청 토론회 (Democratic Leadership Debate) KBC Gwangju P P P YouTube
5 August 19, 2020; 17:20 Daejon 더불어민주당 당대표 후보자 초청 토론회 (Democratic Leadership Debate) Daejon MBC P P P
6 August 20, 2020 Seoul 100분토론 - 더불어민주당 당대표 후보자 토론회 (100 Minute Debate - Democratic Leadership Debate) MBC P P P YouTube
7 August 27, 2020 Seoul 더불어민주당 당대표 후보자 초청 방송토론회 (Democratic Leadership Debate) KBS1 P P P YouTube

Results

edit

The ratio of the results by sector was 45% for delegates, 40% for party members, 10% for opinion poll and 5% for non-voting members poll.

Full result - Leader[24]
Candidates Delegates (45%) Party members (40%) Opinion poll (10%) Non-voting members poll (5%) Total (100%)
Lee Nak-yon 57.20% 63.73% 64.02% 62.80% 60.77%
Kim Boo-kyum 29.29% 14.76% 13.85% 18.05% 21.37%
Park Joo-min 13.52% 21.51% 22.14% 19.15% 17.85%
Full result - Supreme Council[25]
Candidate Delegates (45%) Party members (40%) Opinion poll (10%) Non-voting members poll (5%) Total (100%) Note
Kim Jong-min 13.54% 25.47% 23.9% 24.08%
19.88%
Senior member
Yeom Tae-yeong 16.88% 9.9% 12.29% 8.95%
13.23%
Noh Woong-rae 12.29% 12.75% 16.48% 17.88%
13.17%
Shin Dong-kun 9.62% 13.79% 16.68% 12.98%
12.16%
Yang Hyang-ja 7.14% 15.56% 13.32% 15.18%
11.53%
Lee Won-wook 17.39% 6.93% 5.69% 5.28%
11.43%
Han Byung-do 13.81% 9.77% 5.69% 8.93%
11.14%
So Byeong-hoon 9.33% 5.84% 5.89% 6.75%
7.47%

References

edit
  1. ^ "'민주당의 원탁'에 누가 앉을까…당대표·최고위원 후보 PK연설회(종합)". Newsis (in Korean). 1 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Lee Nak-yon Elected Leader of Democratic Party". world.kbs.co.kr. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  3. ^ 박, 보람 (29 August 2020). "(2nd LD) Former PM Lee Nak-yon elected ruling party's new chairman". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Lee Nak-yon, Kim Boo-kyum vie to lead DP". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  5. ^ McCurry, Justin (16 April 2020). "South Korea's ruling party wins election landslide amid coronavirus outbreak". The Guardian. Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  6. ^ 전, 명훈 (19 August 2020). "민주당 전당대회 '완전 온라인'…당사에서 개최". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  7. ^ 김, 원철; 이지혜 (7 July 2020). "이낙연 민주당 대표 출마선언…"국난극복의 역사적 책임 이행에 최선"". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  8. ^ 김, 형규 (9 July 2020). "김부겸 당대표 출마선언 "차기 대선, 영남 300만표 책임지겠다"". Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  9. ^ 김, 진하 (21 July 2020). "박주민 "두려움 없는 정당 만들겠다" 당대표 도전 선언[전문]". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  10. ^ 조, 병석 (10 August 2020). "더불어민주당 최고위원 후보 방문 환영 현수막 걸린 경기도의회". Gyeonggi Shinmun. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  11. ^ 하, 사헌 (22 July 2020). "최고위원 출마선언하는 신동근". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  12. ^ 최, 모란 (20 July 2020). "염태영 수원시장, 민주당 최고위원 출마…기초단체장 출신 최고위원 탄생할까". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  13. ^ "양향자 최고위원 출마..."경제 없이 정권재창출 없다"". Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  14. ^ 배, 주환 (21 July 2020). "한병도 최고위원 출마 선언 "민주당의 정무수석 될 것"". MBC (in Korean). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  15. ^ 전, 환욱 (21 July 2020). "소병훈, 최고위원 출마...."정권 재창출 선봉 설 것"". Aju Business Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  16. ^ 전, 명훈 (20 July 2020). "노웅래, 최고위원 출마…"민심 경고등 켜졌다"". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  17. ^ 선, 정민 (19 July 2020). "최고위원 출마 이원욱 "민주당 내로남불에 국민들 실망"" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  18. ^ 전, 명훈 (21 July 2020). "김종민, 최고위원 출마…"권력개혁 반드시 완수"" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  19. ^ 홍, 수민 (17 July 2020). "이재정, 민주당 최고위원 출마 선언…"개혁의 전사 되겠다"". JoongAng Ilbo. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  20. ^ 김, 보연 (24 July 2020). "[속보] 민주당 최고위원 예비경선서 '이재정·정광일' 컷오프". Chosun Biz (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  21. ^ "홍영표 '당 대표 불출마' "백의종군 결론"". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 3 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  22. ^ ""내가 당대표 되면 이낙연이 떨어지잖아"… '불출마' 송영길, 또 실언". 뉴데일리. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  23. ^ "우원식 "대선주자들과 경쟁은 모순"…당대표 불출마 선언". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 5 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  24. ^ "이변은 없었다…이낙연 압도적 승리로 끝난 민주당 전당대회 [종합]". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  25. ^ 김, 명지 (29 August 2020). "김종민⋅염태영⋅노웅래⋅신동근⋅양향자... 민주당 최고위원에(종합)". Chosun Biz (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 14 February 2021.