Lee Jong-bae Relieved by 'Positive Diagnosis'... People Power Party Continues Innovation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The People Power Party, which was placed in an emergency situation due to a staff member testing positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has been somewhat relieved by the negative test results of Policy Committee Chairman Lee Jong-bae and others. The party plans to review the timing of their return based on the National Assembly situation while proceeding without disruption with the organization of the party audit and by-election committees.

Choi Hyung-doo, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated on his Facebook on the 4th, "Chairman Lee and all his aides tested negative," adding, "We have been somewhat relieved." The previous day, after a staff member working in the Policy Committee chairman’s office tested positive, the leadership including Chairman Lee, Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in, and Floor Leader Joo Ho-young canceled all official schedules and remained at home.

Although the staff members tested negative for COVID-19, screening tests are still being conducted for 27 additional people who require testing beyond the 33 first contacts, so it is still too early to return to the National Assembly. A People Power Party official said, "The leadership is holding video meetings divided into morning and afternoon sessions," and added, "The timing of the return will follow the discussions of the National Assembly COVID-19 Response Task Force." The party leadership held a video conference that morning to discuss ▲ COVID-19 testing ▲ the 4th anniversary of the enforcement of the North Korean Human Rights Act ▲ and the inspection of typhoon damage.

Although some National Assembly schedules have been disrupted, the plans to organize the party audit, by-election countermeasure committees, and the special committee for organizational strengthening, which were announced at Chairman Kim’s 100-day inauguration press conference, will proceed without disruption. Another People Power Party official said, "Since these are scheduled for mid-month, there will be no disruption to the schedule."

In particular, the party audit is closely related to severing ties with the remaining 'Taegukgi faction' within the party. Party Audit Chairman Lee Yang-hee suggested securing transparency in the party audit during a non-face-to-face meeting on the 1st, stating, "The evaluation items and methods of the party audit should be discussed from the perspective of the people." There is also speculation that former lawmakers Min Kyung-wook and Kim Jin-tae, who attended the Gwanghwamun rallies, as well as former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is aiming to return, could be replaced during the party audit process.

However, the growing criticism of Chairman Kim’s autocratic leadership triggered by this situation is a burden. Lawmaker Jang Je-won pointed out, "At a time when comfort is needed, it is truly cruel to question who the party audit is for." Lawmaker Cho Hae-jin also criticized on YTN Radio’s 'Starting New Morning' that day, saying, "There are points that could be seen as authoritarian," and added, "He hardly attends the party meetings, and even when he does, he only gives a greeting and then leaves."

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