Kim Yongtae Says "Party Convention Will Be Handled by Next Emergency Committee... I Will Complete Reform"

"I am not attached to my term... My duty is to continue reforms without interruption"
"Institutionalizing party platform to reflect members' and citizens' opinions... Preparing for the election of a new floor leader"

Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, stated on the 6th that he would focus on reform and self-reflection for the remainder of his term. He added, "If I complete my term, a new Emergency Response Committee will be established, and that committee will likely be a management-oriented body tasked with preparing for the party convention." This is interpreted as his intention to prioritize completing the reform process amid mounting internal pressure for his resignation following the party's defeat in the presidential election.

After attending the Memorial Day ceremony at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on this day, Kim told reporters, "The current Emergency Response Committee must take responsibility and engage in thorough self-reflection."

Through his remarks, Kim drew a line against calls for his resignation while emphasizing the validity of the reform-oriented Emergency Response Committee. He said, "I am not attached to my term," but also noted, "Despite the wrong choice of martial law, 41% of the people supported us in the presidential election, likely because they expected the possibility of change within the party. I will not stop pursuing reforms in order not to betray that expectation."

Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is answering reporters' questions on the 6th at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim, who has led calls for reflection and change within the party since the presidential election, was appointed Emergency Response Committee Chairman on May 15 following the nomination of former presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo. His term runs until the 30th of this month. However, as demands for an early party convention and the dissolution of the Emergency Response Committee have recently intensified, especially among pro-Han Donghoon factions, attention has focused on Kim's position.

At the parliamentary meeting the previous day, lawmakers mainly from the pro-Han faction asserted that "Chairman Kim should take responsibility for the presidential election defeat and resign." In response, Kim left room for flexibility, stating, "If, during the remaining period, I can clearly demonstrate the direction of reform I have mentioned, inform the public of our mistakes, and fulfill the role of self-reflection, I am willing to end my term at any time."

With all other Emergency Response Committee members except himself having expressed their intention to resign, Kim commented on the party's direction by saying, "What matters is not the method, but the will to reform," and added, "The election of the new floor leader will be prepared without delay."

President Lee Jae Myung and Kim Yong Tae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, are greeting each other at the 70th Memorial Day ceremony held at the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 6th. Photo by Presidential Office Press Photographers Group

In particular, Kim cited the institutionalization of the party platform decision-making process as a future reform task. He said, "On sensitive issues such as the special prosecutor bill, I have maintained that lawmakers' autonomous judgment should be respected, but unfortunately, this was voted down at the parliamentary meeting," and added, "Even so, that was the lawmakers' decision, and I respect it."

Regarding his luncheon with President Lee Jae Myung on the 4th, where he conveyed concerns about the Democratic Party's push for legislative action, Kim said, "I understand that the President and the Democratic Party have temporarily put the bill on hold," and added, "I view positively the shift in stance following the meeting with the opposition leader."

He went on to argue, "The Democratic Party should withdraw the bill immediately, even today. Only then can national unity be achieved."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.