[Interview with Yeo Jeon-dae] Jo Su-jin: "I will fiercely oppose the 'Lee Jae-myung leadership'"

The First Battlefield is the National Assembly, Need for Floor Leaders
Responsible Politics Must Be Achieved Through Party-Government Integration
National Unity is an Important Task Beyond Ruling and Opposition Parties

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] "To win the general election in April next year, the ruling party leadership must be able to fiercely confront the 'Lee Jae-myung leadership.'

Jo Su-jin, a candidate for the Supreme Council member in the People Power Party's March 8 party convention, said in an interview with Asia Economy, "Although we won the presidential election, we are still the opposition in the National Assembly until April next year," adding, "A member of the parliamentary floor must enter the leadership to logically counter the more vicious Democratic Party," appealing for support.

Jo, originally from Jeonju, Jeonbuk, is a former journalist and currently the head of the Yangcheon-gu Gap district party committee in Seoul and a proportional representation lawmaker. In the previous party convention, Jo received a total of 100,253 votes (24.1% of the total votes) and was appointed as the senior Supreme Council member. He emphasized, "The primary battlefield until April next year is the National Assembly," and "Although there are excellent people outside the parliament, active lawmakers are needed in the leadership."

Jo said, "Once the formal party leadership is launched, the parliamentary leadership can also gain momentum," and predicted that after the party convention, the Yoon Seok-youl administration's plans and the president's philosophy will be better realized within the ruling party through party-government cooperation. He added, "The term 'party-government unity' caused unnecessary misunderstandings, but 'party-government integration' is necessary," explaining, "The reason for party-government consultations is that the ruling party leads the creation of new government policies and the supplementation of policies, so strengthening cooperation between the party and government and adapting to the times is very important."

He also cited the Roh Moo-hyun administration and the Uri Party as examples to stress the need for 'responsible politics.' Jo said, "The Uri Party was an extreme case, but since the presidential office and the party were separated, neither took responsibility," adding, "As responsibility was shifted, the chairperson (now the party leader) changed eight times every three months, which was completely detached from responsible politics." He further stated, "The term 'party-government separation' is impossible," and added, "Since there is a president, there is a ruling party."

Jo expressed the view that it is inappropriate for the term 'Non-Yoon (비윤, Non-Yoon Seok-youl)' to emerge less than a year after the president's inauguration. He said, "This leadership must fight elections as a minority ruling party and battle in the National Assembly until April next year," adding, "In such a situation, internal strife is very regrettable." Regarding the rule change to 100% party member voting, he said, "Even after the hard-won regime change, internal strife caused too much damage within the party," and refuted, "There are about 830,000 responsible party members, so it is impossible for anyone to order or single out someone."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jo also emphasized that he is essential for expanding the People Power Party's outreach. He said, "Now, party members seem to evaluate a person based on what they have done and their capabilities beyond their region," adding, "I believe they know in detail how I have worked as a member of the National Assembly." In particular, he said the People Power Party should pay attention to former President Kim Dae-jung, who was elected president with 79 seats during the 1997 IMF (International Monetary Fund) crisis. Jo said, "Among President Kim Dae-jung's various policies, a representative one is the so-called Eastward Advancement Policy," and stated, "National unity is something that anyone should value and pursue regardless of party or era."