People Power Party Approves Kwon Seong-dong's Reinstatement... First Approval for 'General Election Defectors'

Lee Eun-jae Denied... Interest in the Positions of Hong Jun-pyo, Kim Tae-ho, and Yoon Sang-hyun

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The People Power Party approved the reinstatement of Representative Kwon Seong-dong, who had left the party during the general election, on the 17th.

The Emergency Response Committee of the People Power Party passed Kwon's reinstatement application during a closed-door meeting that day.

Kwon, a four-term lawmaker, was cut off from the party nomination in the April 15 general election, left the party, ran as an independent, and won. Even after his election, he continuously expressed his intention to return to the party and applied for reinstatement immediately after winning.

An official from the Emergency Response Committee said, "The agenda approved by the qualification review committees of each city and provincial party was submitted to the Emergency Response Committee in accordance with procedures," adding, "There was no disagreement regarding Kwon's reinstatement."

This is the first time that reinstatement has been allowed among the 'four independents,' who opposed the nomination cut-off, ran as independents, and won, including Representative Kwon. Accordingly, attention is focused on the whereabouts of Representatives Hong Joon-pyo, Kim Tae-ho, and Yoon Sang-hyun.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Response Committee also received a reinstatement application from former Representative Lee Eun-jae on the same day, but it was not approved. Former Representative Lee opposed the nomination cut-off and joined the Christian Liberty Unification Party led by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon in March but left due to controversy over his Buddhist background. He later joined the Korea Economic Party, ran in the general election with proportional representation number 1, but did not secure a winning position.