Kwon Youngse: "I Don't Understand Calls for Personnel Reform... Even 107 United Are Not Enough"

"I Cannot Agree with Acts That Harm the Party" over Candidate Replacement Controversy
"Not Attempting Unification Could Constitute Breach of Trust or Neglect of Duty"

Kwon Youngse, a member of the People Power Party, criticized calls within the party for personnel reform, stating, "Even if all 107 of us unite solidly, it would still not be enough. I do not understand what could be accomplished by removing people here and there." On the 14th, appearing on KBS Radio, Kwon addressed the issue of responsibility regarding the controversy over replacing the presidential candidate, which was raised by Representative Ahn Cheolsoo. He began by saying, "I cannot agree that this constitutes an act that harms the party."

Kwon Youngse, People Power Party member. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

This was in response to Representative Ahn, who had been nominated as the chairman of the Innovation Committee, demanding measures such as the expulsion of Kwon, who had served as Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader during the candidate replacement controversy, as well as Kwon Seongdong. Specifically, Kwon stated, "Even if personnel reform is necessary, since the next general election is three years away, wouldn't it be better to postpone it until then?" He continued, "Right now, it would be more appropriate to encourage everyone to unite their efforts to prevent the ruling party from acting unilaterally." He added, "If it turns out that there is no role for us in checking and controlling the ruling party, then that is the time to make a judgment."

Regarding the candidate replacement process, Kwon assessed it as "democratic," but recalled that he was "somewhat surprised" that the party member vote on whether to replace the candidate with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo was rejected. He especially noted, "Nearly 90% of party members said that a unified candidacy should be achieved," and explained, "At the party members' meeting, 64 lawmakers gathered, and 60 of them delegated authority to the leadership to proceed with the unification process." He added, "In that sense, not attempting (the candidate replacement) could have constituted a breach of trust or neglect of duty."

Kwon Youngse, member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Regarding the party's official stance last December against the impeachment of former President Yoon Sukyeol, Kwon said, "Even if it were to happen someday, my position was that it would not happen this quickly." He continued, "Since the presidential election would take place even before the various trials involving Representative Lee Jaemyung are concluded, I thought it would only serve to exonerate Representative Lee and hand over the administration to the opposition, so it would be better to take some time and observe." In conclusion, Kwon said, "If we were to look back now and judge whether that decision was right at the time, it would be difficult to criticize it from the party's perspective."