[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The United Future Party has chosen the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Response Committee (ERC)' system, and former Chief Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in has accepted it, meaning the party will be run by the ERC for about a year. Attention is focused on whether the United Future Party, entering its fifth ERC system, can overcome failure and successfully reform its structure.
On the 22nd, former Chairman Kim met with reporters in front of his office and stated, "I will do my best to work hard during the remaining period to get the party back on the right track," confirming his acceptance of the ERC chairman position. On the same day, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, Lee Jong-bae, chairman of the Policy Committee, and Kim Sung-won, senior deputy floor leader, visited Kim’s office to request that he take on the ERC chairman role.
The suggestion to appoint former Chairman Kim as ERC chairman emerged immediately after the party’s defeat in the last general election. While some within the party proposed strengthening the party through an early party convention, the dominant opinion was that no one other than Kim Jong-in was suitable to reform the party. Accordingly, former floor leader Shim Jae-chul approached Kim to request the ERC chairmanship and attempted to approve the 'Kim Jong-in ERC' through the Standing National Committee and the National Committee. However, the Standing National Committee, which defines the ERC’s term, failed to meet quorum, and the responsibility was deferred to the new floor leadership.
Subsequently, with Joo Ho-young, known as a supporter of the 'Kim Jong-in ERC,' winning the floor leader election, a green light was given. Although skepticism about the effectiveness of the 'Kim Jong-in ERC' and calls for party strengthening still existed within the party, the transition to the ERC was overwhelmingly approved at the elected members’ workshop on the 22nd. Going forward, the United Future Party plans to hold the National Committee and Standing National Committee meetings to set the ERC’s term until next year’s by-elections.
Granting former Chairman Kim the nomination rights for next year’s by-elections is interpreted as giving him a powerful reform mandate equivalent to full authority. Having mentioned the need for a 'generation of 40s,' he is expected to prominently promote moderate conservative politicians and young politicians. The elected members also reached a consensus on the necessity of nurturing young politicians while discussing party reconstruction plans at the workshop. However, when asked about the 'generation of 40s' theory, Kim cautiously responded, "I don’t know if such people will emerge or not."
After more than a month of uncertainty following the general election defeat, the United Future Party is seeking substantial change by transitioning to the ERC and deciding to merge with the Future Korea Party. Although the Future Korea Party once conveyed to the United Future Party that a merger in May was impossible, the merger was narrowly decided as elected members and party officials from both parties publicly demanded it. The United Future Party will hold a National Committee meeting on the 28th to proceed with the merger approval process with the Future Korea Party.
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