'Kim Jong-in Emergency Committee' Resolves Term Issue, Set to Launch This Week Amid Backlash

21st Elected Members "Term Until Next Year's By-Election" Meaning Gathered
Emergency Committee Likely Composed of Newcomers, 3040 Generation, and Economic Experts
Some Still Oppose... Jo Kyung-tae "Should Not Rely on Outsiders"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The new leadership system of the United Future Party, the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Response Committee,' is scheduled to officially launch within this month. The issue of the term, which was blocked due to opposition from some party members, has been resolved by gathering the opinions of the majority. If it passes the Standing National Committee and the National Committee on the 27th, the leadership vacuum will be filled about 40 days after the crushing defeat in the general election.

The Standing National Committee, which was once canceled due to a lack of quorum, is expected to pass smoothly this time. Although there is still veto opposition among some senior lawmakers, since the majority agreed at the 21st National Assembly elected members' workshop to set the term until the by-elections in April next year, the opposition momentum has disappeared. The party constitution will be amended at the Standing National Committee and National Committee so that the supplementary provisions for the next party convention, stipulated to be held by August 31, will not apply if an emergency response committee is established. Once this amendment is made, the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Response Committee' is expected to be guaranteed a term of about one year as requested by Chairman Kim.

Kim, the designated emergency response committee chairman, met with Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, on the 22nd and virtually expressed his acceptance, so once the term issue is settled, the emergency response committee is expected to start its work immediately. At this meeting, he expressed his determination, saying, "I will work hard to get the party back on the right track."

Kim's first task will be to form the emergency response committee. According to the party constitution and regulations, the committee can be composed of up to 15 members including the chairman, but there is a strong possibility that the size will be reduced. Since he has emphasized the 'generation of the 40s' theory, it is highly likely that a young emergency response committee will be formed. Excluding ex officio members such as Floor Leader Joo and Policy Committee Chairman Lee Jong-bae, the core will likely be first- and second-term lawmakers, young politicians in their 30s and 40s, and economic experts.

During the term of about one year, the biggest task of the Kim Jong-in Emergency Response Committee is to transform the United Future Party into a ruling party. In this general election, the United Future Party was only given enough seats to barely block constitutional amendments. Kim has been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of gaining public interest and consensus in a situation where political attention inevitably focuses on the ruling party.

Regarding this, former Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok predicted that Kim would bring up the issue of the basic income system. On the 25th, he said on KBS radio, "I think there will be a proactive stance on the basic income system," adding, "He is someone who creates debates early on and can generate quite interesting philosophical points of consideration." Kim's orientation is expected to be reflected not only in the emergency response committee members but also in key party appointments such as the secretary-general and the head of the Yeouido Research Institute.

It is also important to create an atmosphere where innovation continues even after the emergency response committee system ends. This is necessary to dispel concerns inside and outside the party that "relying on an external emergency response committee for innovation may instill the perception that the party lacks the ability to solve problems on its own," and that "once the emergency response committee ends, everything will return to square one."

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