United Future Party to Elect Floor Leader on the 8th of Next Month... Opinions Divided on '1-Year Term' for Emergency Committee Chair (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] The United Future Party held an executive committee meeting to discuss plans to reschedule the Standing National Committee and National Committee meetings for July 6-7, and to extend the term of the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson (ERC Chairperson) to one year, but no conclusion was reached. They agreed to elect the floor leader on July 8.

Shim Jae-cheol, acting party leader of the United Future Party, told reporters after the executive committee meeting at the National Assembly on the 29th, "There was an opinion suggesting to set the term of the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Response Committee' to about one year and seek opinions again," adding that they exchanged views on this matter.

He said, "We will gather more opinions from the elected members and existing lawmakers," and added, "There was a suggestion on when to hold the Standing National Committee and National Committee meetings, but since the premise of the discussion itself has not been decided, the dates have not been set." He further stated, "The only thing decided so far is to hold the floor leader election at 9:30 a.m. on July 8." He also mentioned that if no conclusion is reached regarding the Emergency Response Committee by the time the new leadership is elected on the 8th, the responsibility will be passed on to the new leadership.

Earlier, Cho Kyung-tae, an executive committee member of the United Future Party, told reporters, "It was decided to hold the Standing National Committee and National Committee meetings on the 6th or 7th," but this was revealed to reflect only the situation up to the middle of the meeting. Acting leader Shim explained, "Until then, such talk was happening, but during the ongoing discussion on whether to gather opinions on that matter, (Executive member Cho) left."

On the same day, Executive member Cho told reporters, "The Emergency Response Committee should be as short as possible," and argued, "We should not make this decision; instead, we should pass this heavy burden to the newly elected members who will lead the 21st National Assembly."