[Comprehensive] Democratic Party Emergency Committee Appoints 'Nth Room Tracking Team' Park Ji-hyun as Co-Chairman

Among 8 Members of the Emergency Committee, 4 Are from the 2030 Generation
"No Issues Expected in Handling Daejang-dong Special Investigation at March Extraordinary National Assembly... I Recall Yoon Also Agreed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 13th, the Democratic Party of Korea announced an emergency committee lineup plan that includes Park Ji-hyun, former activist of the 'Nth Room Tracking Team Bulkkot,' as co-chair of the Women's Committee. Among the eight members of the Democratic Party's emergency committee, including Chairperson Yoon Ho-jung and Co-Chair Park, four are from the 2030 generation.

Chairperson Yoon stated at a National Assembly press conference that day, "The emergency committee carries the heavy responsibility of fundamental party reform, fulfilling promises to the public, and preparing for local elections," adding, "We have finalized the committee composition based on the principles of youth, women, livelihood, and unity," and emphasized, "In particular, half of the entire emergency committee members were appointed from the 2030 generation."

Yoon continued, "Despite all kinds of threats, they have resisted and fought against illegality and injustice. This time, they showed courage by putting down their masks and IDs and appearing with their real faces and names," explaining the reason for appointing Co-Chair Park: "The determination and actions representing youth are invaluable spirit and values that our Democratic Party desperately needs. Going forward, she will lead overall policies from the perspective of sexual crime countermeasures, women's policies, socially vulnerable groups, and youth."

When asked by reporters how they plan to overcome the past issue where young members who joined the emergency committee remained symbolic and did not play an active role, Chairperson Yoon replied, "I told Co-Chair Park that we will strive to faithfully legislate the policies and legislative matters she has promoted through increasing 2030 youth nominations and parliamentary activities." Co-Chair Park is currently in self-quarantine due to a COVID-19 diagnosis.

In addition, the Democratic Party's emergency committee includes young entrepreneur Kim Tae-jin, former co-chair of the Gwangju election committee and neighborhood resident representative, Kwon Ji-woong, director of the Mindalpaengi Cooperative, former lawmakers Chae Yi-bae and Bae Jae-jung, and current lawmakers Cho Eung-cheon and Lee So-young. The committee has launched with a total of eight members, including two co-chairs, and two more members are expected to join later.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chairperson Yoon stated, "We plan to additionally appoint labor sector emergency committee members recommended by the newly elected floor leader and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which decided to support our candidate by delegate consensus in the last presidential election."

He added, "To be reborn as a Democratic Party that regains love and trust from the people, we will change everything based on humility and reflection and get closer to the public," emphasizing, "The emergency committee, including myself, will take the lead on this path. We will pioneer Democratic Party reform with the determination to create paths where there are none and make doors when we encounter walls."

Regarding the local election strategy, he said, "We believe there are many citizens who feel regret over supporting candidate Lee Jae-myung in the recent presidential election and narrowly losing. Our only way is to do our best to properly fill our shortcomings so that those who feel that regret can support our party's candidates again," and stressed, "Since the central government has shifted to the People Power Party, we plan to appeal to the public on the need to prevent excessive bureaucratic concentration in society through decentralization of local governments."

On the claim by lawmakers including Kim Du-kwan that candidate Lee should be nominated as emergency committee chairperson to contest the local elections, Yoon said, "Various lawmakers have diverse opinions. Our strength lies in finding the best and most suitable solution amid such diverse opinions," and drew a line by stating, "Regarding candidate Lee's future position, I think it is better to give him time to make his own choice."

Regarding whether to discuss the three-member multi-member district system for basic councilors and the Daejang-dong special investigation at the March extraordinary session of the National Assembly, he said, "We proposed abolishing two-member electoral districts for local elections, but after various reviews, abolishing two-member districts and having only three to four members causes some problems. Therefore, we plan to revise it to have three to five-member electoral districts," and added, "Regarding the special investigation, during the last presidential election campaign, our party submitted a special investigation plan to the National Assembly, and I recall that Yoon, the candidate from the People Power Party, agreed to the special investigation. Since the ruling and opposition parties had consensus, I believe there will be no problem handling it at the March extraordinary session."

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