Jeong Cheong-rae's 'Era of Party Member Sovereignty' Private Organization Controversy

Candidate Jeong Cheong-rae claimed during the election process that he was running the election without relying on organizations, but with the voluntary support of his supporters. He emphasized that 'no organization can overcome the wind,' asserting that he would win purely through the power of his supporters, without an official camp or organization.

After Jeong Cheong-rae became party leader, an organization called 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' was launched within the Democratic Party on January 6, 2026. Although this organization was formed as an external party group, suspicions have been raised that it effectively functioned as a core institutional organization for candidate Jeong Cheong-rae's current campaign. 5,000 party members participated at its launch, and co-chairperson Lee Jin-ryeon played a pivotal role.

With co-chairperson Lee Jin-ryeon at its center, 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' is criticized for virtually operating as a private organization for candidate Jeong Cheong-rae's re-election. The scale and operational methods of the organization appear to have been concentrated on a specific candidate's election campaign, leading to accusations that it overstepped the role of a healthy external party organization.

Before the launch of 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty,' Lee Jin-ryeon posted on her Facebook page on December 23, 2025, to announce the application for founding members, leading the organization's recruitment. She posted a direct application form for founding members with the message, 'Let's go together in the Era of Party Member Sovereignty, the spirit of the times,' to gather members.

Lee Jin-ryeon is a figure who previously resigned from her position as Vice Chairperson of the Democratic Party and is understood to have played the most crucial role in the formation of 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty.' Her Facebook activities before the organization's launch are criticized for revealing an intention to consolidate specific forces.

Candidate Jeong Cheong-rae attended the disbandment ceremony of the Nosamo flash mob meeting, which was held at the Korea Productivity Center's training institute. The phrase 'KPC' was spotted at this location, which intensified suspicions of a private organization due to its connection with 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' activities.

The revelation of a specific organization's activities at the Nosamo meeting venue suggested that candidate Jeong Cheong-rae's side held an organized after-party. This contradicts the candidate's claim of an 'election without organization.'

Lee Jin-ryeon posted photos and statements of 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' activities along with reviews of national convention-related events on her Facebook. She mentioned, 'Many of you came a long way. Precious and grateful comrades,' revealing the nature of the gathering.

Lee Jin-ryeon also disclosed through her Facebook posts that a separate 'Era of Party Member Sovereignty' after-party was held at the Korea Productivity Center training institute, where the Nosamo flash mob meeting took place. This shows that the two gatherings occurred at the same location but for different purposes.

Lee Jin-ryeon's expression 'spent it without feeling the heat' implied that 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' actively worked for candidate Jeong Cheong-rae's re-election during the national convention period. This statement clearly reveals that 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' was operated as a private organization for candidate Jeong's re-election.

Lee Jin-ryeon referring to 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' members as 'comrades' and expressing gratitude for their efforts adds weight to the criticism that this organization was formed for the purpose of a specific candidate's election campaign.

Criticism has been raised that 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' was organized from the beginning with the goal of re-electing candidate Jeong Cheong-rae. This organization is suspected of having been transformed into a private organization by leveraging Assemblyman Jeong Cheong-rae's authority and influence.

This contradicts candidate Jeong Cheong-rae's interpretation of an 'election based on momentum.' The organized movement mobilizing 5,000 party members is criticized for undermining the original intent of voluntary support.

At one side of the meeting that invited Nosamo members, Lee Jin-ryeon held a separate gathering with members of 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty.' Photos taken at the scene clearly show the phrase 'KPC,' distinctly revealing the existence and activities of 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty.'

Furthermore, an unidentified man who always accompanied Lee Jin-ryeon was spotted next to her, raising suspicions about the internal organizational operation of 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty.'

Through Jeong Dal-seong's Facebook post about the 'Nosamo United Flash Mob' and Lee Jin-ryeon's comment, it was confirmed that two meetings were held at the same location. Jeong Dal-seong's post mentioned the Nosamo meeting, and Lee Jin-ryeon commented on that post, indirectly revealing that she was at the same location.

This further clarifies the circumstances that Lee Jin-ryeon held a separate after-party with 'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' members simultaneously with the Nosamo meeting. Supporters of a specific candidate and an external organization called the Era of Party Member Sovereignty were active at the same location.

'The Era of Party Member Sovereignty' has an inherent purpose of not becoming a group that supports a specific candidate. However, as suspicions arise that this organization was effectively operated to re-elect candidate Jeong Cheong-rae, a discrepancy with its founding purpose is being pointed out.

The fact that attendees were limited to forces supporting a specific candidate is far from the original goal of 'rooting the spirit of party member sovereignty.' This leads to criticism that, while proclaiming democratic values, it actually operated as a disguised private organization for a specific candidate.