Kim Jong-in Accepts United Party Emergency Committee Chairmanship... But National Committee on 28th Remains a Variable

No Fixed Term for Emergency Committee... Party Convention Likely Postponed Until End of August
Cho Kyung-tae Calls It a "One-Sided Decision," Suggests Possible Vote Failure at National Committee
Kim Young-hwan Emphasizes Need to "Coolly Accept Defeat"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] Former Future United Party General Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in is stepping in to manage the party after its crushing defeat in the general election. Kim has accepted the position of emergency committee chairman. The United Party plans to hold a national committee meeting and a standing national committee meeting on the 28th to proceed with the launch of the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Committee.' However, since there are disagreements within the party regarding the term of the emergency committee, there is a possibility that the resolution at the national committee meeting could fail.

Acting Representative Shim Jae-cheol told reporters immediately after a closed supreme council meeting at the National Assembly on the morning of the 24th, "We officially requested former Chairman Kim to take on the role of emergency committee chairman, and he accepted." The night before, Kim had said he had not met with Acting Representative Shim, raising the possibility of failure, but he ultimately accepted. However, Acting Representative Shim only said, "That’s what I was told. We met," and refrained from commenting on the timing and circumstances of the acceptance.

The term of the emergency committee will effectively have no fixed duration. This was a condition for Kim’s acceptance. Acting Representative Shim cited Article 96, Clause 6 of the party constitution, stating, "The emergency committee shall continue until a party representative and supreme council members are elected at a party convention convened after the emergency situation ends." Since this conflicts with the party rules requiring a party convention by the end of August to elect new leadership, he said, "We will push for a revision process at the national committee to amend the temporary supplementary provisions regarding the date of the party convention." This opens the way for the emergency committee to operate beyond the end of August.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Committee' will be officially launched after approval at the national committee and standing national committee meetings on the 28th. However, since there is still noise surrounding the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Committee' system, there are also views that the plan could fail. The United Party previously attempted to hold a national committee to approve Kim Yong-tae as Innovation Committee Chairman in 2016, but the meeting was aborted due to opposition members’ absence.

Supreme Council Member Cho Kyung-tae told reporters after the meeting, "If it is an emergency committee, there should be a fixed term, and the duties must be performed within that term. The authority should be the same," expressing regret over the unilateral decision. He added, "The party convention must be held by September or October at the latest. If forced, party members and lawmakers will resist," suggesting the possibility of failure due to significant controversy and confusion at the national committee meeting.

On the other hand, Supreme Council Member Kim Young-hwan said, "There is an opportunity to gauge public sentiment before the presidential election in April next year: the by-elections." He said, "We will go through the process of being judged in the by-elections, and I think it is right to continue until then." Regarding opposition to the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Committee' from those who say internal issues should be resolved within the party, he said, "I highly appreciate the passion for the party, but considering the cold reality of defeat in the metropolitan area, it is difficult for us to undergo a complete transformation," supporting the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Committee.'

Acting Representative Shim said, "Some say it should only last until the end of August, others say until the end of December, and some say until the election in April next year. Everyone has different opinions, but I think a reasonable judgment will be made," dismissing the controversy by saying, "We are a political group. We are not a group that will push forward unilaterally despite many people opposing it."

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