Appointed Officials' 'Mass Resignation' and 'Kim Ki-hyun Season 2'?..."Meaningless" vs "No Alternative"

Cheon Ha-ram "What significant meaning can we offer to the people?"
Kim Young-woo "It's not a matter of just changing the menu"
Lee Yong-ho "Quitting without alternatives will cause confusion"

As the People Power Party suffered a crushing defeat in the by-election for the Gangseo District Mayor, all appointed leadership members, rather than elected officials, have submitted their resignations "for the stability and development of the party." This means that the Kim Ki-hyun leadership system remains intact, leading to criticism within the party that the total resignation of appointed officials will not hold much significance for the public. However, there is also analysis that the choice of a de facto "Kim Ki-hyun Season 2" is due to the practical difficulties of transitioning to an emergency response committee with the general election just around the corner, and the lack of clear alternatives besides Kim.

On the 16th, Cheon Ha-ram, the People Power Party Suncheon-gap District Committee Chair and a member of the "Pro-Lee Jun-seok faction," said on BBS's "Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal," "If the party's figurehead or the person ultimately responsible for decision-making does not change, and only appointed party officials change, can this really hold any significant meaning for the public? I personally think it will not attract much interest or hold much meaning."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 14th, all appointed officials of the People Power Party, including Secretary-General Lee Cheol-gyu, resigned. Although it was said to be "for the party's stability and better development," criticism is unavoidable as the appointing authorities, including Representative Kim, remained unchanged. On the same day, Kim indicated the launch of an innovation body, stating, "I will stake my political life on winning the general election," but there are concerns that even this will not easily lead to genuine innovation.

Former lawmaker Kim Young-woo, from the "Ahn Cheol-soo faction" and former election campaign committee chairman for Ahn Cheol-soo, said on MBC's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," "'Choi Jae-hyung Innovation Committee' existed, but no one really paid attention to it." He added, "Changing just the menu won't solve the problem." The "Choi Jae-hyung Innovation Committee," launched under former Representative Lee Jun-seok's leadership last year, became virtually ineffective after Lee's downfall and ended its activities at the end of last year.

He emphasized that simply establishing an innovation committee is not enough; a level of change equivalent to re-founding the party is necessary to gain public support. Kim said, "I believe the party's figurehead should change, and rational conservatives should lead at a re-founding level. To win next year's metropolitan elections, this must be a genuine reform at the level of re-founding, not just words. If it does not reach the level of reform seen in 2012, I think it will be a very difficult game."

However, the pro-Yoon (친윤) faction responded that "there is no alternative." Considering schedules such as the National Assembly audit and the general election, transitioning to an emergency committee is difficult. This view was the majority at the lawmakers' meeting held the day after the Gangseo District Mayor by-election to discuss the party's response. Pro-Yoon lawmaker Lee Yong-ho said on YTN's "News King with Park Ji-hoon," "Representative Kim has done his best, and if he steps down now without an alternative, the party might become somewhat chaotic. Therefore, supporting him is the best option at this point," describing the atmosphere at the meeting.

Regarding the establishment of a "Kim Ki-hyun Season 2" atmosphere at the meeting, he said, "If Representative Kim steps down, the party would either move to an emergency committee or another direction, but forming an emergency committee takes considerable time and involves complex procedures. Also, as an emergency committee chair, is there an alternative that can harmonize sufficiently within the party, share the party's sentiments as much as possible, and gain the backing of lawmakers? Various considerations likely played a complex role in this decision."