Kwon Seong-dong "Private Weekend Meeting with Park Hong-geun... Seeking Agreement on Organizational Structure"

Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader, speaking at the party strategy meeting (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, announced on the 2nd that he plans to meet with Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, over the weekend to seek a resolution to the negotiation on the organization of the National Assembly.

After attending the inauguration ceremony of the new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos as a special envoy of the president and returning to Korea on the same day, Floor Leader Kwon told reporters at Incheon Airport in the morning that he made this statement regarding the Democratic Party's unilateral convening of the plenary session on the 4th.

Regarding the specific timing of the meeting, Floor Leader Kwon said, "We proposed a meeting to the Democratic Party, and they responded, but they expressed that it would be better to keep it private for now," adding, "In any case, I can only say that the meeting is scheduled."

He added, "Regarding the unilateral convening of the National Assembly or the election of the Speaker by the Democratic Party, our Policy Committee Chair and Chief of the Floor have already made several statements, and my position is no different from theirs."

Regarding the opposition's demand for the withdrawal of nominations for candidates such as Kim Seung-hee, Minister of Health and Welfare, and Park Soon-ae, Minister of Education, who were reported to the Central Election Commission, Floor Leader Kwon said, "I have seen various suspicions through the news," and added, "I hope the negotiation on the organization of the National Assembly will be concluded quickly, and the candidates will be verified from the public's perspective through the confirmation hearings."

When asked further whether the candidates should go through the explanation process via confirmation hearings, he explained, "If possible, of course, for ministerial candidates, they should respond through the National Assembly confirmation hearings," adding, "Currently, suspicions have been raised by some media and opposition parties, and we need to hear the candidates' explanations to make an accurate judgment."

Regarding a question about Park Seong-min, a member of the National Assembly who recently resigned as chief of staff to Representative Lee Jun-seok, he said, "I do not know exactly why the chief of staff to the party leader submitted the resignation," and added, "It is also inappropriate to comment on that," withholding further remarks.

Floor Leader Kwon said he plans to report the results of his special envoy visit to the Philippines to President Yoon by phone, adding, "It is difficult to confirm a meeting with the president due to his schedule." He said, "I met with the Philippine president to discuss defense cooperation, defense industry capabilities, and defense issues between Korea and the Philippines," and added, "I requested close cooperation regarding the FA50 fighter jets we manufacture and the submarine sector."

Floor Leader Kwon conveyed that President Yoon expressed his hope to elevate the relationship with the new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to a strategic partnership through an early meeting, and President Marcos responded, "I want to hold a bilateral meeting soon, and if not possible, I look forward to meeting President Yoon at a multilateral meeting."