{"id":2205562,"date":"2024-06-24T14:47:29","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T05:47:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2205562"},"modified":"2024-06-25T19:15:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T10:15:21","slug":"south-koreas-main-opposition-party-weakens-anti-corruption-rules-in-charter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/06\/south-koreas-main-opposition-party-weakens-anti-corruption-rules-in-charter\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s main opposition party weakens anti-corruption rules in charter"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korea\u2019s main opposition Democratic Party (DP) amended its charter in ways that potentially undermine the rule of law and accountability for political leaders. The changes, which include removing safeguards against corruption, risk eroding democratic norms and concentrating power in the hands of party leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n Last week, DP committee members overwhelmingly approved 11 amendments to the party\u2019s main charter. The most contentious change involves the removal of <\/span>Article 80<\/span><\/a>, which previously mandated the suspension of party members accused of corruption. This modification has sparked intense debate within political circles and among legal experts.<\/span><\/p>\n The amendments come as South Korean political leaders face legal challenges. Experts interviewed by <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> emphasize the critical importance of maintaining legal and ethical standards in politics, warning that the current political climate, coupled with these charter changes, could further weaken the principle that no one is above the law.<\/span><\/p>\n KEY CHARTER AMENDMENTS<\/b><\/p>\n At a central committee meeting on <\/span>June 17<\/span><\/a>, 422 out of 501 participating DP lawmakers voted in favor of the 11 amendments as a single package.<\/span><\/p>\n The most notable change affects the party leader\u2019s <\/span>resignation deadline<\/span><\/a>. The party\u2019s executive committee can now set a different resignation deadline if it feels there are \u201cspecial and significant reasons\u201d to do so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The DP\u2019s original charter required party leader Lee Jae-myung to resign by March 2026, one year before the next presidential election, regardless of re-election. Lee <\/span>resigned<\/span><\/a> from his leadership post on Monday to seek another term as party leader in a national convention set for August.<\/span><\/p>\n However, the new amendment allows Lee to remain party leader until the formation of the presidential election campaign committee, extending his tenure past the June 2026 local elections, where he would retain nomination rights for candidates. This would allow Lee to ensure that party members remain loyal to him as he seeks to run for president in 2027.<\/span><\/p>\n The revisions to Article 80 are equally controversial. The party eliminated several anti-corruption measures, including the automatic suspension of duties for officials indicted for corruption and mandatory disciplinary action for members sentenced to imprisonment.<\/span><\/p>\n The DP also eliminated the clause allowing the party affairs committee to make exceptions to disciplinary actions in cases of perceived political oppression. Moreover, it abolished the rule that automatically reinstated suspended members if the party later decides to cancel disciplinary action against them.<\/span><\/p>\n These changes effectively reduce the flexibility and safeguards in the party’s disciplinary process and have sparked controversy within and outside the DP.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Critics, including the <\/span>ruling People Power Party<\/span><\/a> and some DP members, argue that the changes appear tailored to benefit specific individuals, particularly party leader Lee Jae-myung.<\/span><\/p>\n Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon <\/span>warned<\/span><\/a> that the amendments could mislead the public and benefit specific interests, while DP lawmaker Kim Young-jin <\/span>stated<\/span><\/a> they contradict the party\u2019s core principles.<\/span><\/p>\n The approval of these amendments follows a <\/span>similar, unsuccessful attempt<\/span><\/a> to revise Article 80 after the 2022 presidential election.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n