Democratic Party sets Aug. 17 for leadership convention, no resignation deadline for incumbents

By Joo So-hyun, The Herald Business

The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to hold its national party convention on Aug. 17 to elect its next leader.

Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae announced the date at a press briefing at the National Assembly on Monday, saying the party had reached a consensus to hold the convention in August and to do so "on the earliest possible date, the 17th."

Cho said the party would finalize the convention's timing, procedures and rules through a Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday, a party affairs committee meeting around Thursday, and a central committee meeting the following week. Once that process is complete, a convention preparatory committee and an election management committee will be formed, he said.

He added that the party would then open candidate registration for party leader and supreme council members. If three or more candidates enter the race for party leader, a preliminary primary would be held before the main primary, followed by regional circuit primaries, with the party leader and supreme council members to be elected on Aug. 17.

Asked whether sitting party leaders or supreme council members could seek re-election at the upcoming convention, Cho said there is no resignation deadline, "only precedent." The remarks came amid speculation that incumbent party leader Jung Chung-rae is eyeing a second consecutive term, with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and former party leader Song Young-gil also seen as potential candidates.

"Under the party constitution and rules, there is no provision barring re-election, so it is permitted, and there is no specified resignation deadline either," Cho said. He noted that when President Lee Jae Myung served as party leader, Lee resigned before the preparatory committee was formed.

The party's Supreme Council also voted Monday to establish a review panel to assess the results of the June 3 local elections and National Assembly by-elections. Cho said the panel would include both internal and external figures in a balanced composition, with co-chairs at its head, and that specific appointments would be finalized and reported by Wednesday. "We will use this official body to conduct a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of the local and by-elections, take stock of the party's serious situation, and draw lessons for our operational direction and strategic priorities," he said.

On the timeline for publishing a white paper on the elections, Cho said compiling records from the various bodies involved — including the local election planning committee, candidate eligibility review committee, candidate nomination management committee and appeals committee — along with primary proceedings and campaign summaries, would require separate administrative work. "We also need to include an assessment of the elections' significance and shortcomings, so it is difficult to set a specific publication date," he said. "We want to do it as soon as possible, but we will need to form the review panel and discuss it before we can make that call."

On calls for a special prosecutor to investigate ballot shortages that occurred in some constituencies during the local and by-elections, Cho said it is rare for a parliamentary investigation and a special prosecutor to operate simultaneously. "Parliamentary investigation requests have been submitted by each party, but no special prosecutor bill has been filed — there are only calls for one," he said. "What we can agree on and act on right now appears to be the parliamentary investigation."

On discussions about constitutional reform related to the National Election Commission, Cho said he believes such reform should be pursued if it proves necessary for fundamental change, following investigations and a thorough diagnosis of the causes behind the ballot shortage crisis.

He added that a two-track approach is needed: a rigorous parliamentary investigation and special prosecutor inquiry to fully establish the causes of the crisis, alongside institutional reforms to improve the efficiency of election administration — including the commission's authority and role and its relationship with administrative agencies.