Senior Democratic Party Lawmakers: "We Must Establish Principles and Standards and Form an Emergency Response Committee"

Discussion on Party Reform at Meeting Between Floor Leader and Senior Members
Early Party Convention "Physically Difficult"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Park Hong-geun, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met with senior party lawmakers to discuss party reform measures. On this day, the senior lawmakers reached a consensus that holding an early party convention would be physically difficult and that the leadership should be formed through a proper discussion process.

On the morning of the 3rd, Floor Leader Park held a meeting with senior lawmakers with four or more terms in the National Assembly at the Floor Leader’s meeting room and discussed for about an hour the plan for party formation after the dissolution of the leadership.

Oh Young-hwan, the floor spokesperson, told reporters after the meeting, "We reached a consensus that internal unity and solidarity are important in the difficult party situation, and the senior lawmakers agreed that a cold evaluation and thorough reform are necessary in the current situation of the party. We also conveyed many opinions to the Acting Leader regarding the role and composition of the Emergency Response Committee, which will carry out many procedures including preparation for the party convention," he explained.

He added, "We reached a consensus that it is essential to have time where party lawmakers can freely and sufficiently express their opinions without restrictions, including in joint meetings. It seems that the opinions of senior lawmakers will be conveyed and further discussions will take place in the joint meetings," he said.

Regarding the possibility of holding an early party convention, he dismissed it, saying, "I understand that there are such opinions as a minority view in some quarters, but it seems physically impossible to hold an early party convention itself. We reached a consensus that it is better to proceed according to the party’s constitution and regulations."

Regarding the timing of the formation of the Emergency Response Committee, he said, "There is a joint meeting at 2 p.m., but since many people responsible for party affairs within the party should be able to speak without restrictions, it seems that a specific timing will not be decided until a consensus is formed. However, if the majority of lawmakers want and demand it, discussions can take place until the weekend," he explained.

The lawmakers who attended the meeting agreed to form the leadership through proper procedures and discussions. Hong Young-pyo, a four-term lawmaker, said, "We talked about intensifying reform and innovation, and this time, gathering various opinions well regarding the formation of the Emergency Response Committee to eliminate elements of conflict or division within the party and quickly organize it to hold the party convention well."

He also said, "Isn’t it that last time the Emergency Response Committee was formed without anyone knowing, which caused such results? This time, we talked about setting principles and standards in the party meeting as much as possible, forming the Emergency Response Committee accordingly, and ensuring that various voices can be gathered."

Four-term lawmaker Ahn Kyu-baek also said, "The Emergency Response Committee should not be formed like last time, but should have representativeness that can gather the overall consensus of all members."

Meanwhile, at 2 p.m. on the same day, Democratic Party lawmakers will hold a joint meeting of the party affairs committee and lawmakers at the National Assembly to officially discuss party reform measures.

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