South Korea’s PPP says dues-paying membership nears 1 million
Song Eun-seok, floor leader of South Korea’s People Power Party, presides over a parliamentary strategy meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 16. Photo by Asia Today
Dec. 16 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s People Power Party said Tuesday its number of dues-paying members is nearing 1 million, arguing the growth reflects a strengthening of the opposition since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office.
Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong said at a parliamentary strategy meeting at the National Assembly that, as of December, the party had 963,231 dues-paying members, which he described as the highest level since membership statistics were first compiled.
Jeong said the party had 744,354 dues-paying members in late November last year. That figure fell to 711,528 in April, then rose to 751,030 by Aug. 26, when the party held its national convention. Since then, Jeong said dues-paying membership has increased by 212,201 compared with the convention period.
Jeong said the leadership does not view the increase as a typical election-season boost. He said the number of “responsible members” – defined as members who have paid dues for more than three months – also rose by 53,995 compared with the convention period. He called the scale of the increase unprecedented.
Jeong said public demand to push back against the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party is being reflected in higher party membership. He said the participation and solidarity of members shows expectations for the People Power Party to mount a stronger opposition.
He added that the party aims to build a more active organization with its members, win the next local elections and position itself as an alternative party focused on people’s livelihoods.
– Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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