"If Kwon Seong-dong Steps Down, Jo Su-jin Acts as Interim... Ruling Party Looks Ridiculous"

Cheon Haram "Kwon Acting President, Concerned if Will Last 6 Months"
Ha Taekyung "Lee Junseok, Politically Advantageous"

Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Leader of the People Power Party, is arriving at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] A message exchange between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Kwon Seong-dong, acting leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, has caused significant turmoil within the party.

On the 28th, Cheon Ha-ram, an innovation committee member of the People Power Party, said in a CBS radio interview, "It is true that there are somewhat critical voices against Acting Leader Kwon within the party," adding, "He hasn't been in the acting position for very long, but he has already been involved in various controversies, raising concerns about whether he can last six months."

He continued, "Given that Representative Lee Jun-seok has not stepped down, it is very difficult to hastily hold a party convention," and said, "It would be problematic if there were two leaders at the same time." He added, "Even so, if Kwon, the floor leader and acting leader, steps down from the current acting system, then the acting of the acting leader would fall to Supreme Council member Jo Soo-jin."

Committee member Cheon said, "That would be a ridiculous situation for the ruling party," and "It seems everyone is pondering whether there is a realistic alternative."

Regarding the emergency response committee (ERC) system, he said, "The term of the ERC can be decided considering the relationship with Representative Lee," but added, "However, in that case, who would take the position of ERC chairperson, and to what extent the ERC's authority would extend could cause further internal disputes, so this is not a simple matter."

People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung also said on the radio that day, "In any case, the president seems to lack inclusiveness. As a leader, this disappointment and negative perception have spread widely." He continued, "Both the president himself and the already low approval ratings are being adversely affected, so how to recover from this is a very big challenge."

Lawmaker Ha also offered an interpretation that this situation is not entirely politically disadvantageous for Representative Lee. He said, "Rather, the police investigation and the current indictment issue will naturally lead to indictment. That has been the general expectation," adding, "But the police will not proceed with an unfounded and excessive indictment without sufficient evidence."