[Politics X-File] The Shortest 24-Day Term of a Hannara Party Leader's Relentless March

(36) 2006 Kim Young-sun, Grand National Party Leader
Party leader titles alongside Park Geun-hye, Lee Hoi-chang, Hong Joon-pyo
Active leader schedule including frontline units and Nanum House

Editor's Note"Political X-Files" is a series project that delivers the "unprecedented stories" recorded in the election results and incidents of Korean politics.

Park Geun-hye, Lee Hoi-chang, Hong Joon-pyo, and Kim Young-sun.

The commonality among them is that they have all held the position of leader (chairperson) of the Grand National Party, which is regarded as the most powerful force in the history of conservative politics in the Republic of Korea. The list includes individuals who have become president of South Korea or have come close to the presidency.

Politicians are referred to by the highest title they have held in their political careers. For example, if a politician has served as party leader, they are still called "Leader" long after their term. Those who have served as floor leaders customarily continue to be addressed as "Floor Leader."

The same applies to ministers. The title of minister remains for 10 or 20 years after holding the position. For example, former Minister of Health and Welfare Yoo Si-min and former Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young, who served during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, are still referred to as (former) ministers in 2023.

Yoon Yeo-jun, a politician known as a representative strategist in Korean politics, also holds the title of (former) minister. He was appointed Minister of Environment in 1997 during the Kim Young-sam administration, and even in 2023, he is still addressed as minister. This shows that even if not currently in office, titles such as minister, leader, or floor leader are used out of respect.

For politicians of the People Power Party, who have continued the legacy of conservative parties, the Grand National Party is a shining memory of history. The 2006 local elections, regarded as the greatest landslide victory in South Korean political history, also belong to the era of the Grand National Party. The title of former Grand National Party leader is like a badge of honor for People Power Party politicians.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with political heavyweights like Park Geun-hye, Lee Hoi-chang, and Hong Joon-pyo, who appeared on the presidential election ballots, is politician Kim Young-sun, who became the Grand National Party leader in his 40s. He is currently a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party.

Politician Kim Young-sun served as the Grand National Party leader for a 24-day term in 2006. In June 2006, the position became vacant following the resignation of Park Geun-hye as party leader. Won Hee-ryong, who had placed second in the party convention and was then a Supreme Council member, announced his intention to resign, so the next highest vote-getter, Kim Young-sun, assumed the leadership of the Grand National Party.

Although he served temporarily until the next party convention scheduled for July 11, 2006, he was legally, officially, and politically the legitimate party leader.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

One might wonder what could be accomplished during such a short 24-day term, but Leader Kim Young-sun attracted attention in Yeouido's political circles with his vigorous activities. Shortly after taking office, he paid a courtesy visit to former President Kim Young-sam. Around the 56th anniversary of the Korean War, he visited the front GOP battalion of the 5th Army Division to encourage soldiers.

He fulfilled his role faithfully as the leader of a party that continued the legacy of conservative politics.

His official activities as Grand National Party leader continued.

On July 1, 2006, Kim Young-sun visited Nanum House in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province (a communal residence area for former comfort women of the Japanese military), emphasizing, "The government must firmly demand appropriate compensation from Japan for the suffering our people endured during the Japanese occupation, and Japan must listen to the voices of neighboring countries, including ours, if it wants to play a role in the international community."

On July 2, 2006, he experienced agricultural policy firsthand by helping in a bokbunja (Korean black raspberry) field in Heungdeok-myeon, Gochang County, Jeonbuk Province. Leader Kim Young-sun pledged, "This year's bokbunja is overproduced, causing difficulties in sales channels. We will discuss improvements in production and distribution issues at the party level."

On July 6, 2006, he attended a policy meeting with women scientists. At the time, Leader Kim Young-sun said, "As the opposition party leader, I thought it was essential to meet with women scientists. It is a critical time to make practical efforts to support women in science and technology."

Although a 24-day term might be seen as a temporary caretaker role focused on preparing for the party convention and other necessary tasks, Leader Kim Young-sun carried out a busy and diverse schedule comparable to any other party leader.

Politician Kim Young-sun first entered the National Assembly in the 15th general election in 1996 and has been an active incumbent lawmaker as of 2023. He has served five terms and held various party positions, but his 24-day tenure as Grand National Party leader is likely the most valuable period in his political career.