Kim Yong-tae: "The Emergency Committee is filling vacancies, not replacing party district chiefs"

Jin Jeong-seok, Emergency Response Committee member of the People Power Party, attended the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th and awarded the Yeouido Research Committee Chairman badge to former lawmaker Kim Yong-tae before the meeting started. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Yong-tae, former lawmaker and the new head of Yeouido Research Institute, the ruling party's 'think tank,' recently addressed concerns about the party district organization restructuring led by the Emergency Response Committee, stating, "It is not about replacing party district chairpersons but filling vacancies where the chairperson position is empty."

On the 27th, Kim appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs' and said, "There are not just a few vacancies; currently, nearly 70 positions are vacant."

He added, "In the recent local elections, the atmosphere was favorable, so many incumbent party district chairpersons ran for office, and since the government was launched, many positions have become vacant due to appointments to public office or various other reasons. Holding the next party convention with about 70 vacancies is practically difficult."

Within the ruling party, there are concerns that many non-Yoon faction party district chairpersons may be replaced through applications for party district chairpersons and party audits. Kim acknowledged, "I admit that various concerns may arise," and said, "However, Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok has stepped in as a crisis reliever during numerous crises our party has faced, smoothly managing and minimizing internal conflicts and resolving situations. I believe he will demonstrate such political skills again this time."

Regarding the timing of the party convention, he said, "After the regular National Assembly session ends and we enter next year, we will quickly prepare for the next party convention," adding, "Once the regular session ends, the party will likely devote all its efforts to preparing for the convention."

There are also rumors that Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, who enjoys high popularity among the support base, might be drafted for the party convention. However, Kim said, "It is completely premature now," and explained, "With various criminal investigations piling up in layers, it is hard to imagine entering politics directly without political experience before these are resolved. Things will likely proceed naturally."