Major Shakeup Expected in Democratic Party Leadership Ahead of Local Elections
The Democratic Party is bracing for a significant reshuffling of its leadership as top council members prepare to resign in pursuit of candidacies in the upcoming local elections. According to party regulations, any top council member intending to run in the local elections must resign from their position by December 5th. Kim Byung-joo and Han Jun-ho, both top council members, are reportedly planning to step down next week to focus on their campaigns for Governor of Gyeonggi Province. The two are expected to compete for the nomination through a party primary.
Jeon Hyun-hee, another top council member, is reportedly considering a run for Mayor of Seoul and is currently weighing the timing of her resignation. As a veteran figure within the party, Jeon has consistently been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Seoul mayoral race. Lee Un-ju is rumored to be considering a run for Governor of Gyeonggi Province, while Seo Sam-seok may be eyeing the Governor's seat in South Jeolla Province, and Hwang Myung-sun is potentially interested in running for Governor of South Chungcheong Province. Having been active in their respective regions for a long time, these individuals are expected to wield considerable influence should they decide to run.
A key source within the Democratic Party stated, "Considering the remaining terms of the top council members, a by-election could be held in January even if they resign by December 3rd." This suggests that internal discussions regarding the timing of the top council members' resignations are already underway. The source also added that "the leadership reshuffle will be concretely implemented in early next year."
The party leadership plans to proceed with the appointment of successors as quickly as possible after the resignations of the top council members, aiming to ensure the stable operation of the party. This leadership overhaul is an important opportunity for the Democratic Party to reorganize its ranks ahead of next year's local elections and secure momentum for victory. Some observers speculate that this leadership change could lead to a generational shift within the party. Attention is focused on whether young talent will join the leadership and drive the party's innovation.
Along with the resignations of the top council members, the question of the party leader's future may also be discussed. The party leader's leadership has a significant impact on the outcome of local elections. The Democratic Party has stated that it will do its best to revamp the party's image through this leadership change and meet the public's expectations in next year's local elections.
As of now, no top council member has officially announced their intention to resign, but the resignations of those considering running for office are imminent. The Democratic Party plans to minimize any leadership vacuum in accordance with relevant party regulations. This leadership change is a crucial variable that will determine the Democratic Party's performance in next year's local elections.
