People Power Party Freshman Group "Welcome Freshman Candidacy, Will Not Support Factional Backing"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] The first-term group of the People Power Party has resolved not to unilaterally support first-term lawmakers running for the next party leadership or form separate faction meetings to back them. They also urged Joo Ho-young, the acting party leader and floor leader who is considering running for party leadership, to make a swift decision regarding his position.

On the 14th, about 40 first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party, including Representative Yoon Chang-hyun, held a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly to discuss issues such as the leadership structure following the by-elections and decided accordingly.

After the meeting, Representative Yoon said, "To show a healthy image of the party, when a first-term lawmaker declares their candidacy, we ourselves welcome it," emphasizing, "It was decided that we do not support factional perspectives that back first-term lawmakers just because they are first-term."

They agreed on separating the election of the floor leader and the chairperson of the Policy Committee for the next leadership structure. Representative Yoon said, "There was near consensus on separating the Policy Committee chair," adding, "Through this separation, it seems it will be an opportunity to prepare good alternatives on the party’s agendas and will also be a good chance to establish the status of a governing party."

Regarding Acting Leader Joo, who is contemplating running for the next party leader at the upcoming party convention, there were remarks that "it would be good to resolve things promptly and naturally," applying pressure for a swift decision on his position.

On Joo’s challenge for party leadership, he remained silent, saying, "There are many opinions, so it is not possible to organize them all at once, and positions differ."

Meanwhile, support from both inside and outside the party continues for first-term lawmakers aiming to run for party leader. Seo Byung-soo, the longest-serving member within the party, reportedly discouraged other senior members from running along with his own declaration not to run. Ha Tae-kyung, a three-term senior member, said in a KBS radio interview, "A party only for elders, playing anti-communism and security games with a pro-North Korea label, has no future," adding, "I want to encourage the first-term lawmakers. I intend to actively support and help them."

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