People Power Party Members Gather by Player to Urge Reconfirmation of Choo Kyung-ho

Four-term or More Incumbents "Must Return Quickly to Lead Struggle"
Reelected Lawmaker "Will Finalize Opinions Within the Day"

Members of the People Power Party held meetings by player and urged the return and reaffirmation of Floor Leader Chu Kyung-ho, who has been on a silent retreat in Baengnyeongdo.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 26th, after finishing a meeting with senior members at the National Assembly, Jung Jeom-sik, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, told reporters, "Out of 19 senior members with four or more terms in the party, 8 attended the meeting. I directly called the other 11 to convey the message," adding, "The senior members all agreed that the situation in the National Assembly and the party is very difficult, so Floor Leader Chu should return quickly to lead the floor and vigorously carry out the opposition struggle." He continued, "One senior member who did not attend expressed concern about Floor Leader Chu’s health and suggested meeting with him to discuss and decide according to his wishes."

Chairman Jung said, "There will be a meeting of second-term lawmakers this afternoon, and the first-term and third-term lawmakers have already expressed agreement," adding, "We plan to listen to the opinions of lawmakers again at tomorrow’s general assembly and consider ways to convey them to Floor Leader Chu."

Second-term lawmakers also held a meeting following the senior members’ meeting to discuss Floor Leader Chu’s position. After the meeting, People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin told reporters, "Because the meeting was suddenly arranged, many lawmakers had local event schedules, so 10 out of 29 could not attend," adding, "We decided to gather more opinions and organize them." However, it is known that the second-term lawmakers who gathered that day agreed to reappoint Floor Leader Chu. Lawmaker Bae plans to collect and organize the opinions of the remaining second-term lawmakers within the day.

People Power Party third-term lawmakers gathered at Chairman Jung’s office the day before and expressed that they could not accept Floor Leader Chu’s intention to resign. On the same day, first-term lawmakers, led by lawmaker Kim Dae-sik, conveyed their unanimous support for reaffirmation to Floor Leader Chu via text message. However, it is reported that Floor Leader Chu did not respond to the first-term lawmakers’ request for his return.

Earlier, on the 24th, Floor Leader Chu held a general assembly at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and decided to accept the seven standing committee chair positions left to the ruling party by the Democratic Party. He expressed his intention to resign as floor leader, taking responsibility for the negotiation process with the Democratic Party regarding the organization of the National Assembly. After announcing his resignation, Floor Leader Chu visited Baengnyeongdo in Incheon and has been continuing his silent retreat. Within the party, calls for reaffirmation are spreading. The People Power Party will hold a general assembly on the 27th to elect the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and seven standing committee chairs. However, the start time of the general assembly was moved up by 30 minutes to discuss Floor Leader Chu’s position.