"People Power Party's Reform Score, I Also Give Zero Points"
"Sit-in Like a Book Launch Event... Lacks Desperation"
Former People Power Party lawmaker Sungtae Kim expressed his sympathy for lawmaker Na Kyungwon, who is currently staging a sit-in at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall. He also criticized that holding a sit-in in a manner similar to a book launch event would not be effective.
On July 1, Sungtae Kim appeared on MBC News Tonight and said, "A politician's sit-in must be desperate and earnest. There are various methods, such as fasting, but it should not be done as if it were a book launch event."
He also commented on Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim visiting Na Kyungwon and asking, "You're not fasting, are you?" Kim said, "If you ask such a question in that setting, what kind of image does that create? It's unfortunate."
When he was floor leader in 2018, Sungtae Kim demanded a special prosecutor for the 'Druking incident' and went on a 9-night, 10-day hunger strike, eventually securing a special prosecutor from the Democratic Party. His goal was the unconditional acceptance of a special prosecutor regarding the Democratic Party member comment manipulation case.
Regarding the upcoming leadership race within the People Power Party, Kim said, "The pro-Yoon faction is still closely united, so they will not allow Han Donghoon, the former party leader, to become the party leader in order to install someone who suits their preferences. They cannot trust former candidate Moonsu Kim, and lawmaker Cheolsoo Ahn has his own political philosophy, especially on issues like impeachment, so he will not fit their tastes."
He added, "It will not be easy to decide whom to put forward right now. That's why the collective leadership system is being discussed. Instead of having a single party leader, the person who comes in first becomes the party leader, and those who place second to fifth become elected supreme council members, allowing multiple people to keep the party leader in check."
However, Kim expressed skepticism about the collective leadership system. He recalled that in 2016, during the Park Geunhye administration, Moosung Kim was elected party leader through a national convention, but other contenders such as lawmaker Cheongwon Seo and lawmaker Inje Lee surrounded the party leader, making it impossible for him to play an independent role.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Woonsik Woo urged both parties to reach an agreement, stating, "At the latest, the confirmation vote for the prime minister nominee must be held at the plenary session on the 3rd." The Democratic Party maintains that there is no reason to delay the session since the vetting of the nominee has been completed, while the People Power Party is calling for a National Assembly hearing, saying, "The real judgment starts now."
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