PPP Junior Lawmakers' Group Voices Concern Over Party Rule Revisions...Calls for General Meeting

"All Intraparty Disciplinary Debates Must End"

Daean-gwa Mirae, a small reformist group within the People Power Party centered on first- and second-term lawmakers, has decided to call on the party leadership to convene a general meeting of lawmakers. They argue that revising the party constitution and rules to shift the nomination authority for heads of basic local governments in regions with a population of 500,000 or more to the central party in the upcoming June local elections runs counter to intraparty democracy and the values of local decentralization.

Daean-gwa Mirae, a small faction centered on first- and second-term lawmakers of the People Power Party, is holding a meeting at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 10th. Yonhap News

Lee Seongkwon, a People Power Party lawmaker and secretary of Daean-gwa Mirae, said on the 10th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that this was the consensus reached after holding a closed-door meeting of Daean-gwa Mirae. Lee explained, "We express serious concern about the proposed revisions to the party constitution and rules that were reported at yesterday's general meeting of lawmakers." He added, "Today, Daean-gwa Mirae will take the lead in calling for a general meeting of lawmakers to ensure sufficient deliberation by lawmakers on the proposed revisions to the party constitution and rules."

Lee said, "The issue that was discussed as the most problematic is the plan for the central party to take over the nomination authority for heads of basic local governments in areas with a population of 500,000 or more," and pointed out, "We saw a problem in that this runs counter to our aspirational values of intraparty democracy and local decentralization, and goes against the times." He went on to say, "There are several pending issues that require discussion, such as the youth additional-points system and matters related to the leadership structure, so we decided to call for a general meeting of lawmakers on these points."

Daean-gwa Mirae plans to draft and submit a written request to convene a general meeting of lawmakers within this morning. Lee explained, "Since there will be a government question session in the National Assembly this afternoon, we plan to request that the general meeting of lawmakers be convened around tomorrow."

Daean-gwa Mirae also expressed the view that all disciplinary discussions, including those involving lawmaker Bae Hyunjin and commentator Ko Seongguk, should be brought to an end. Lee said, "Following former leader Han Donghoon and Chairman Kim Jonghyuk, there has recently been a mood within the party regarding disciplinary measures, but with the local elections ahead, instead of practicing additive politics, we are engaging in subtractive politics, and intraparty conflict and politics of exclusion are running rampant, which does not help win the election," adding, "We urge the individuals involved to exercise restraint and withdraw, and we call for political efforts from the leadership."

Lee again stressed that "the leadership must play a unifying role." He pointed out, "Leaving (the conflict) unattended can appear as if one is siding with a particular position." Specifically, Lee explained that "the leadership should exercise its leadership so that the Ethics Committee's ongoing disciplinary procedures can be withdrawn or halted."