Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon Controversy Management Emphasized
"Words and Actions Befitting the Ruling Party's Dignity"
"Swift Punishment Like Eupchammasok"... Kim Jae-won Faces Disciplinary Pressure
Senior members of the People Power Party (PPP) unleashed harsh criticism toward the party leadership on the 12th. They urged swift resolution as the party leadership’s repeated gaffes linked to Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church could impact next year’s parliamentary elections.
Jeong Woo-taek, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, attended the 'Supreme Council-Senior Members Joint Meeting' held at the National Assembly that morning and stated, "Those at the center of our party and the members should conduct themselves in a manner befitting the ruling party’s dignity," adding, "If such conduct is not upheld, the party members working on the ground will struggle, and strict measures must be taken regarding this."
This appears to target remarks such as Kim Jae-won, Senior Supreme Council Member’s comment on "Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon’s unification of the right-wing camp," as well as Cho Soo-jin, Supreme Council Member’s consecutive gaffes including the 'Eating a whole bowl of rice movement.'
Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the joint meeting of the Supreme Council members and senior lawmakers held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Jeong Jin-seok, former Emergency Response Committee Chairman, also emphasized, "It is natural for the leadership to clearly distinguish rewards and punishments," and said, "If matters requiring decisive action are not handled swiftly, progress cannot be made. Do not show hesitation." This is interpreted as pressure to discipline Senior Council Member Kim.
Assemblyman Hong Moon-pyo directly addressed the 'Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon risk.' He said, "Pastor Jeon claims to have planted 200,000 to 300,000 people within our party and that the party is holding on by that power, but this issue must be resolved quickly through a party resolution," adding, "Our party must not become one that moves at the pastor’s beck and call."
Former floor leader Joo Ho-young stated, "It is extremely important to find and prepare people in advance," and added, "We must finalize the nomination principles and enforce a nomination system that everyone can accept." Former Emergency Committee Chairman Jeong also said, "I hope committees such as the Talent Recruitment Committee and Talent Discovery Committee are formed and activated," and continued, "If we wait until the general election is imminent to select candidates and hear complaints like ‘same old story,’ it would be better to intensively discover people starting a year in advance, prepare them for the election, and show the public a blueprint saying ‘This is how we are preparing for the future with these people.’"
Voices calling for 'reviving people’s livelihoods' were also strong. Assemblyman Seo Byung-soo explained, "The number of stores and restaurants closing is increasing, and many stores remain open but are not doing business," and said, "I think it is necessary to focus on economic policies that understand the difficult situation of the people and soothe their hearts."
Assemblyman Cho Kyung-tae argued that reducing the number of assembly members and abolishing the proportional representation system should be the first pledges for the general election, and that parliamentary privileges such as immunity from arrest and immunity from prosecution should be relinquished.
The Supreme Council-Senior Members Joint Meeting held that day was the first since the inauguration of the Kim Ki-hyun leadership. After the meeting, Representative Kim said to reporters, "I will take these remarks into careful consideration."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
