The Path to Opening the Era of Party Members: Jeong Cheong-rae's Declaration of Candidacy and the Innovation of 'One Person, One Vote' System in the National Convention

Jeong Cheong-rae's Declaration of Candidacy

On June 15, 2025, Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party, officially announced his candidacy for party leader at the National Assembly Communication Center. A four-term veteran, he stated at the press conference, "I will act as one with President Lee Jae-myung," expressing his commitment to the success of the current government. However, his declaration went beyond simply expressing the will of a politician entering the party leadership competition. Under the declaration of "the opening of the era of party member sovereignty," the proposed 'one member, one vote system' was a political decision to fundamentally restructure the operational principles of the large Democratic Party. Jeong Cheong-rae's candidacy raised not just the question of "who will lead the party," but also posed a philosophical inquiry and practical proposal regarding "what kind of party the Democratic Party should become."

What is the one person, one vote system?

The 'one person, one vote system' proposed by Representative Jeong Cheong-rae is a structure where all party members cast the same single vote without distinction between delegates, rights party members, or general party members. Currently, the Democratic Party's convention is composed of a complex ratio of 30% delegates, 40% rights party members, 25% public opinion surveys, and 5% general party member opinion surveys. This structure effectively grants greater influence to delegates, concentrating the decision-making process of the party into the hands of a specific few. Representative Jeong believes that this structure goes against the fundamental spirit of democracy, which holds that all members should have equal participation in decision-making. He aims to transform the vertical hierarchy within the party into a horizontal participation structure through the one person, one vote system. His message that 'no one should hold more votes than others' is simple, but the philosophy behind it is by no means light.

Challenge to the existing power structure

The Democratic Party of Korea has maintained a delegate-centered structure for a long time. This implies that certain factions or organizations can gain an advantage in the composition of delegates and dominate the party power competition. Although the number of delegates is small, they have wielded significant influence in party conventions and nomination processes, often leading to decisions that are at odds with public sentiment. Representative Jung Cheong-rae's one-person, one-vote system is a direct challenge to this vested interest structure. It is not merely a procedural improvement, but an innovation that shifts the center of power from a few to all. It declares that the will of individual party members, rather than organizations, should determine the direction of the party, signifying an essential recovery of party democracy that transcends factional politics.

The Era of Members: Realizing Democratic Parties of Participation and Responsibility

The 'Era of Party Member Sovereignty' is not just a slogan. It is a structural change for the democratization of political parties and an institutional foundation aimed at implementing responsible politics based on participation. The one-person, one-vote system transforms party members from mere supporters or mobilization targets into actual decision-makers. Once this structure is established, the participation of party members in the nomination and policy-making processes becomes tangible, and the transparency and fairness of party operations are naturally strengthened. At the same time, party members will develop a deeper interest and sense of responsibility regarding the party's decisions. A political party becomes not just a political organization but a training ground for learning and practicing democracy. The direction proposed by Representative Jeong Cheong-rae is a vision to transform the Democratic Party from a 'mass party' into a 'participatory party,' and further into a 'responsible party.' This is also a path to political reconstruction based on long-term trust rather than short-term victories.

Political innovation begins with changes in structure

The candidacy of Representative Jung Cheong-rae is not merely another challenge for party leadership. It poses a significant question about how the Democratic Party should present itself to the public in the future, and it also provides a concrete answer. The one person, one vote system is a practical means to transform the party from an organization-centered approach to a member-centered one, from political calculations to democratic procedures, and to be judged by legitimacy rather than personal relationships. If this system takes root, the Democratic Party can truly become a 'party of its members' and a 'party of the people.' A party that shares power and responsibilities can regain trust from the public, and that is the healthy cycle of democracy. In an era where the vote of each party member can change the party's direction and that decision is reflected in government policies and national governance, the change proposed by Representative Jung Cheong-rae is not just an innovation of the party but delivers a powerful message to our entire political landscape. What we need now is not new leadership but the courage to change the system. And that resolution has already begun.