Jo Hae-jin: "If Kim Jong-in Accepts 'Full Authority Emergency Committee'... Declares Him a 'Political Incapacitated Person'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jo Hae-jin, the elected member of the United Future Party for Gyeongnam Miryang·Uiryeong·Haman·Changnyeong, expressed a negative stance, saying that appointing former General Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in, who is demanding full authority, as the emergency committee chairman would be "declaring themselves as political incompetents."

On the 23rd, Jo appeared on YTN Radio's 'Noh Young-hee's Start New Morning' and said, "The very idea that someone who has not been elected by the trust of party lawmakers or party members wants unlimited authority with no term limits, and full power at that, is very undemocratic."

Earlier, former Chairman Kim stated that "if martial law is declared, the constitution of the country is suspended," and set unlimited term and full authority as conditions for accepting the position of emergency committee chairman.

Regarding this, Jo said, "The first-term lawmakers, who are not directly responsible for our party's defeat, are determined to show politics in a new light to the people. To say to them, 'Give me full authority, and you must follow my decisions unconditionally. I must have emergency powers that transcend the party constitution and regulations,' is authoritarian," and pointed out, "What kind of reform can come from such an idea?"

He continued, "The party's decision to accept such a system is tantamount to declaring to the public that 'the 84 elected members of the 21st National Assembly are political incompetents, political incompetents who lack the ability to govern or reform our party themselves,'" adding, "Former Chairman Kim's remarks also sound like saying, 'All 21st United Future Party lawmakers have no ability to reform themselves, and when I decide, you must follow without question and do as you are told.'"

Jo's opinion is that an early party convention should be held instead of an emergency committee. He said, "Holding a party convention quickly to elect new leadership is the right way," and added, "During the party convention or the floor leader election process, competing over the party's self-renewal and new reform vision, showing the public a changed image and a new blueprint for the future is the right way. Even if an emergency committee is formed, it should focus on preparing for the party convention and minimize its duration."

He also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the emergency committee. Jo said, "A core problem of our party in the 20th National Assembly was that we had an emergency committee three times during the four-year term," and criticized, "Deciding to have an emergency committee and chairman three times as an abnormal party is tantamount to declaring to the public, 'Our party is not normal, everyone.'"

There is also a forecast that even if the 'Kim Jong-in emergency committee' is formed, there will be considerable friction. Jo said, "Since it is based on public opinion polls showing that the majority of incumbent lawmakers and elected members agreed, it will not be easy for those who do not agree to accept the emergency committee," and questioned, "Even if the Kim Jong-in emergency committee system proposes new good ideas, how can incumbent lawmakers, who are excluded from the reform process and reduced to reform targets from the start, implement anything?"

Regarding the merger issue with the Future Korea Party, he said, "In the end, they should merge," but added, "Currently, with issues like the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and various parliamentary operations, the positions of the ruling Democratic Party as the first party, our United Future Party as the second party, and the third party as a negotiating group have become important, so strategic aspects must also be considered in making decisions."

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