Reelection, 3rd-term, and 4th-term Meetings
Agreement on Two-Top System
Only 3rd-term Members Narrowed Down to Two Candidates
The People Power Party (PPP) is struggling to find a candidate for the emergency response committee chairperson five days after former leader Han Dong-hoon resigned. Although meetings were held with various factions, consensus was only reached on a two-top system consisting of the emergency response committee chairperson and the floor leader, without agreeing on a specific individual. Meanwhile, internal conflicts triggered by the vote on the proposal to lift martial law and the second impeachment motion remain unresolved within the party.
On the morning of the same day, second-term PPP lawmakers held a second meeting for about 40 minutes starting at 9:30 a.m. to discuss recommendations for the emergency response committee chairperson candidates. In their first meeting the previous day, the second-term lawmakers had only agreed on conditions such as reform and unity, without putting forward a clear candidate.
Following the previous day’s discussion, the second-term lawmakers again met at the National Assembly Members' Office Building and agreed only on a two-top system of floor leader and emergency response committee chairperson. Although there was some talk of a one-top system with Kwon Seong-dong, the acting party leader and floor leader, also taking on the emergency response committee chairperson role, considering the gravity of the situation and the workload, a two-top system was deemed more efficient. Lawmaker Eom Tae-young added, “Whether the emergency response committee chairperson is from inside or outside the Assembly, or whether the person is a unifying figure or focused on constitutional amendment or political reform, these decisions will be entrusted to Acting Leader Kwon.”
Third-term lawmakers also met at the Members' Office Building to discuss potential candidates but could not select a single individual. Instead, they narrowed the list down to two senior lawmakers within the party and plan to convey this to Acting Leader Kwon. Lawmaker Kim Seok-ki said, “After discussion among the third-term lawmakers, most agreed that it is appropriate for someone from within the party to take the role.” He added, “If the floor leader were to take on the emergency response committee chairperson role alone, it would cause work overload, and since the chairperson role involves many responsibilities, a two-top system with the floor leader is appropriate.” Kim explained that they plan to narrow down the candidates to about two senior lawmakers within the party and pass this on.
Fourth-term lawmakers also reached a consensus that an experienced floor leader should lead the party under a two-top system. Lawmaker Park Dae-chul said, “It doesn’t seem appropriate to discuss specific individuals, so no names came up today,” and explained, “I think the floor leader will recommend a suitable candidate based on what we have discussed.”
Amid the urgent party recovery efforts, internal conflicts persist surrounding the votes on the proposal to lift martial law and the impeachment motion against President Yoon. The contents of group chats among PPP lawmakers during the vote on the declaration and lifting of martial law on the 3rd and 4th were leaked and reported. Some within the party have called for identifying the leakers. After the second impeachment motion vote on the 14th, audio recordings from a party meeting were also reported. It was later revealed that some lawmakers threw water bottles and used abusive language toward former leader Han during that meeting.
Lawmaker Kim Sang-wook, who attended all votes on the proposal to lift martial law and the first and second impeachment motions, said on CBS Radio that “Why must former leader Han be branded a traitor to conservatism, attacked with water bottles, and subjected to verbal abuse? The only ‘wrong’ thing he did was to take the lead in lifting martial law and supporting impeachment. Is that really betrayal?” He criticized, “If someone is slightly displeasing, they say ‘let’s root them out’ or ‘let’s find the rebels.’ This is a very totalitarian mindset, and I am truly ashamed that such discussions are happening within our party.”
On the 19th, during a full meeting of the National Assembly’s Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, lawmaker Na Kyung-won’s remark that she “returned to the party office after receiving harsh words from Democratic Party supporters during the emergency martial law situation” drew criticism not only from the Democratic Party but also from within her own party. Na claimed that she did not attend the vote on the National Assembly’s proposal to lift martial law because “I don’t know how Democratic Party lawmakers entered the plenary hall so early, but when we hurried to enter the National Assembly grounds, the entire area was already surrounded by Democratic Party supporters,” adding, “Some lawmakers tried to enter the grounds but received harsh words from Democratic Party supporters and returned to the party office.”
Former PPP spokesperson Park Sang-soo posted on his Facebook the previous day, “Lawmaker Kim Jae-seop scraped his knees so badly while climbing over the National Assembly wall that scabs formed. About 170 Democratic Party lawmakers climbed over the wall and entered,” and questioned, “What exactly were they afraid of? Shouldn’t lawmakers be brave enough to come to the National Assembly during a war or an emergency situation like this martial law?”
There are also critical voices within the party regarding the current procedure for appointing the emergency response committee chairperson. Some argue that it is unfair for only incumbent lawmakers to participate in the selection. Lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun wrote on Facebook that “This party is not just for lawmakers. The opinions of out-of-Assembly district committee chairpersons and party members must also be heard,” pointing out that “On December 18 last year, a joint meeting of lawmakers and district committee chairpersons was held at the National Assembly to discuss the appointment of the emergency response committee chairperson.” He urged, “We must establish new leadership through a transparent and fair process and regain the public’s trust as a united party. Acting Leader Kwon should promptly hold a joint meeting of in- and out-of-Assembly district committee chairpersons to open a forum for discussing a leadership system that meets the public’s expectations.”
Members of the People Power Party are leaving the plenary hall after the impeachment motion against the President (Yoon Seok-yeol) was passed at the 4th plenary session of the 419th National Assembly (extraordinary session) held at the National Assembly on the 14th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
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