Park Dae-chul "Discovering Policies Needed by the People"
Focus on Regional Balance for Next Floor Leader
The upcoming People Power Party floor leader election scheduled for next month is in turmoil. Park Dae-chul, who was considered a leading candidate for floor leader, has been appointed as the chairman of the Policy Committee, and Kim Tae-ho has also announced that he will not run.
On the morning of the 23rd, Park told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "With the general election next year approaching, reform policies and livelihood policies have become more important than ever," adding, "I will devote myself to discovering policies that the people need." He continued, "The party, government, and the presidential office must form an organic cooperative system to produce policies," emphasizing, "The party will take the lead and become a guide."
Park Dae-chul, newly appointed chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
Park, who was weighing the possibility of becoming the next floor leader, is said to have been persuaded for a long time by party leader Kim Ki-hyun. Park said, "For the sake of the public, I will forget personal interests and do my best to fulfill my duties when the big flow calls, which I see as my role."
The party leadership is expected to submit the related agenda for approval at the members' meeting held just before the National Assembly plenary session on the same day.
Park, who hails from Jinju, Gyeongnam, was elected in the 19th general election in 2012 as a candidate for Jinju-gap, Gyeongnam, under the Saenuri Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party). He has since been elected three times up to the 21st National Assembly. Park, who worked as a reporter for the Seoul Shinmun, has served as vice chairman of the Policy Committee, secretary of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, chairman of the Environment and Labor Committee, and chairman of the Planning and Finance Committee after entering the National Assembly.
On the same day, Kim Tae-ho wrote on his Facebook, "There were people who expected me to play a role in this floor leader election, and I deeply considered what role I should play for the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," adding, "I have come to the conclusion that focusing on my duties as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee is the right path." He emphasized, "The international situation is rapidly changing, and this is a time of great transformation to move beyond the past toward the future," adding, "It is time to unite beyond party lines for the national interest."
Kim is known to have been in contact with fellow lawmakers regarding his possible candidacy for floor leader. With Kim and Park not running, the leading candidates for this floor leader election are considered to be four-term lawmaker Kim Hak-yong and three-term lawmaker Yoon Jae-ok. Four-term lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, who ran for party leader in the last party convention, is also expected to run.
Some quarters point out that the next floor leader election will focus on "regional balance." With the party leader and the Policy Committee chairman both from Busan and Gyeongnam (PK), a key factor is whether the floor leader will be assigned to Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK), known as the "heart of conservatism," or shifted to the Seoul metropolitan area for broader outreach. A People Power Party official said, "There was almost no TK figure in the last party convention, so there seems to be some regret from the TK side," adding, "However, there are also many opinions that a figure should come from the metropolitan area, so lawmakers will consider which side will be more helpful to the party and make their choice." Lawmaker Yoon Jae-ok represents Dalseo-gu Eul in Daegu, while Kim Hak-yong and Yoon represent Anseong, Gyeonggi, and Dong-gu Michuhol-gu Eul in Incheon, respectively.
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