PPP to transition into emergency leadership system

Dec 15, 2023, 10:58 am

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Rep. Yun Jae-ok of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) walks with other members to attend a leadership meeting held at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 14, 2023./ Source: Yonhap News

By AsiaToday reporters Park Ji-eun & Yoo Jenny

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has decided to launch an emergency committee as early as next week, following the resignation of party leader Kim Gi-hyeon. The biggest concern of the ruling party is now the appointment of an emergency committee chairman to save the party in crisis. Currently, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong, National Unity Presidential Committee Chairman Kim Han-gil, and former floor leader Na Kyung-won are among the candidates for the chairman.

Rep. Yun Jae-ok of the ruling party delivered the plan on Thursday after meetings with senior members and the party’s leadership to discuss what follow-up measures the party will take after Kim’s resignation. Yun did not mention any potential candidates but said the party is looking at various people who meet the eye-level of people and have the ability to resolve pending issues within the party. “It has not been confirmed yet, but having a singular individual lead the emergency committee would be more effective than having two chairmen of the committee,” he said.

Yun will hold an emergency general meeting of lawmakers on Friday after requesting a recommendation for candidates for the emergency committee chairman at the meeting. The move is aimed at maximizing the number of potential candidates to better appoint a new emergency committee leader. Those who have been mentioned as prospective candidates include incumbent ministers, such as Justice Minister Han, Land Minister Won and Foreign Minister Park Jin, as well as Kim Byung-joon, chairman of Community Chest of Korea, former chief Supreme Court Judge Ahn Dae-hee, and former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik. The party will also gather opinions from its lawmakers on the transition to the emergency leadership system.

Some political observers paid attention to the expression that the party is looking for the right person to “resolve pending issues within the party.” “I think the right person would be a politician or a former minister who is well-versed in pending issues within the party,” a party official said. “Minister Han has never served as a party member, and it seems too early for him to lead the party,” said a lawmaker who attended the senior party meeting. “Minister Won seems to be appropriate since he is well-informed about the party situation and has experience in holding several elections,” the lawmaker said.

PPP plans to establish a committee exclusively tasked with selecting and assigning candidates to constituencies by January 10 per party regulations.

#People Power Party #PPP #emergency committee