With the Surge of 'Kwon Seong-dong Resignation Theory'... Crisis of Yoon's Core Faction

"Disaster if this continues"... Senior lawmakers urge Kwon Seong-dong to resign
Kwon: "I will decide my position myself after the new emergency committee is formed"

Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader of the People Power Party./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The People Power Party, facing a leadership vacuum due to the court's decision to suspend Emergency Response Committee Chairman Joo Ho-young's duties, has decided to form a new emergency response committee and to reconsider Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong's position after stabilizing the situation. However, within the party, calls for Floor Leader Kwon's resignation are openly erupting. Critics argue that it is unreasonable for Floor Leader Kwon, who is responsible for internal confusion caused by various mistakes and controversies, to still hold his position.

On the 27th, the People Power Party held an emergency party meeting, revised the party constitution and regulations, and decided to form a new emergency response committee. Floor Leader Kwon will remain in his position until the new committee is launched. This is because, with Chairman Joo's duties suspended, there is no one else to lead the formation of the new committee. The party also plans to file objections and appeals against the court's provisional injunction suspending the chairman's duties. Regarding former leader Lee Jun-seok, the party demanded the Ethics Committee promptly process additional disciplinary measures.

However, senior party lawmakers have demanded that Floor Leader Kwon immediately decide on his position. On the 28th, lawmaker Cho Kyung-tae held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, stating, "The current leadership must make a magnanimous decision. This recent party meeting decision treats the people and party members as fools," and criticized, "If this continues, a catastrophe is inevitable." He added, "The handling of former leader Lee Jun-seok was unrefined, and selfish interests took precedence in the basic idea of transitioning to an emergency response committee. The current leadership's incompetence has been fully revealed," demanding Floor Leader Kwon's resignation.

Lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun wrote on Facebook about the party meeting decision, "It has killed politics, democracy, the party, and the president. Floor Leader Kwon stepping down is the way to revive politics, democracy, the party, and the president." Lawmaker Kim Tae-ho also raised his voice, saying, "To resolve discord and confusion, it must start with stepping down."

Floor Leader Kwon's leadership crisis has surfaced multiple times already. Following last month's controversy over the presidential office's hiring and his 'Grade 9 civil servant' remark, he repeatedly made fatal mistakes, including exposing text messages exchanged with President Yoon Seok-yeol. On the 25th, after a dry policy was imposed at the People Power Party retreat, a video showing Floor Leader Kwon attending a drinking party was released, sparking controversy. Within the party, criticism arose that "this is why the president's approval rating is plummeting."

Some argue that retaining Floor Leader Kwon is an unavoidable choice to launch the new emergency response committee. Lawmaker Park Soo-young said on Facebook, "It will take one to two weeks to launch the new committee, but it is undeniable that the party leadership must be in place during that time." However, Park pointed out, "Despite many lawmakers believing a clear statement on his position is necessary afterward, this was not clearly resolved at the party meeting."

As calls for resignation intensified both inside and outside the party, Floor Leader Kwon announced he would declare his position after the new emergency response committee is formed. At the emergency response committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 29th, Floor Leader Kwon said, "There are duties I must perform as floor leader to launch the new committee," adding, "What is important now is to end the confusion. I will faithfully carry out the duties assigned to me and the decisions of the party meeting."

Floor Leader Kwon will serve as acting chairman of the emergency response committee until the new committee is launched. The People Power Party plans to complete the launch of the new committee before the Chuseok holiday.