Joo Ho-young: "The Party Convention Preparation Committee Has Been Postponed Until After the Merger with the People Party"

Whether to Run for Party Leader "Will Consider After Party Merger Is Settled"

Joo Ho-young, Acting Leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly on the 13th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The People Power Party announced that it will launch a party convention preparation committee after conducting merger discussions with the People’s Party. Currently, both the People Power Party and the People’s Party are undergoing procedures to gather opinions within their respective parties.

On the 13th, Joo Ho-young, acting leader of the People Power Party, responded to reporters’ questions after the National Assembly floor leaders’ meeting, when asked if the launch of the party convention preparation committee had been postponed. He said, “Whether it can be done by Thursday (22nd). We postponed it due to the People’s Party’s time schedule,” adding, “If we launch the preparation committee first, it could be misunderstood as ignoring the People’s Party and pushing it unilaterally.”

Regarding the current merger discussions with the People’s Party, he said, “We asked the People’s Party to inform us as soon as their position is finalized,” and added, “We are trying to find out the People’s Party’s timetable through official channels.”

He further explained, “We have a members’ meeting scheduled for Friday (16th), and I believe the members’ opinions on the merger issue will be organized then.”

On the previous day, the 12th, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting, “Starting today (12th), we plan to proceed with the procedure of asking party members’ opinions beginning with the provincial party branches.” Accordingly, the People Power Party is expected to decide on the merger once both parties complete their opinion-gathering process and then proceed with full-scale preparations for the party convention.

Meanwhile, Acting Leader Joo also postponed his decision on whether to run for party leader until after the merger with the People’s Party. He stated, “I believe there is an order to things. I will consider it once the merger issue with the People’s Party is settled.”