Democratic Party Appoints Woo Sang-ho as New Emergency Committee Chairman After Local Election Defeat (Comprehensive)

Park Hong-geun, Han Jeong-ae, Park Jae-ho, Lee Yong-woo, Kim Hyun-jung, and others appointed as Emergency Committee Members
Party Affairs Committee and other follow-up procedures underway, aiming to complete formation within this week

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] The Democratic Party of Korea has appointed four-term lawmaker Woo Sang-ho as the head of the newly formed Emergency Response Committee following the party's defeat in the local elections. The appointment of Woo, which has gained the consent of Democratic Party lawmakers, is expected to be finalized after subsequent procedures such as the Party Affairs Committee.

On the 7th, the Democratic Party held a party meeting to discuss the leadership formation plan. Shin Hyun-young, the Democratic Party spokesperson, stated during a briefing in the meeting, "The person who was just discussed and agreed upon as the Emergency Response Committee Chair is lawmaker Woo." Regarding the background of the appointment, she explained, "First, there was a voice that it would be better if the appointee was someone from within the party, and the opinion that it should be a current lawmaker was more prevalent. There was also an expectation that, given his seniority and his declaration not to run for re-election, he would demonstrate neutral leadership in the Emergency Response Committee."

Shin conveyed that there were "no objections" within the party meeting regarding Woo's appointment as the Emergency Response Committee Chair.

She introduced, "It can be understood that (Woo) was appointed as the chair of the Emergency Response Committee from among the members recommended by senior lawmakers." Just as first-term, second-term, and third-term lawmakers recommended members to the Emergency Response Committee, Woo was the recommended candidate from the senior lawmakers.

In the party meeting, first-term lawmaker Lee Yong-woo, second-term lawmaker Park Jae-ho, and third-term lawmaker Han Jeong-ae were recommended as Emergency Response Committee members, and from the non-parliamentary committee chairpersons, Kim Hyun-jung, the chairperson from Pyeongtaek, was recommended as a member through a roundtable meeting. Additionally, Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, will join as an Emergency Response Committee member. Regarding the appointments, spokesperson Shin explained, "It was shared in the party meeting and unanimously agreed upon." The positions for female and youth Emergency Response Committee members will be decided through further discussions.

The appointment plan is scheduled to be finalized this week after going through the Party Affairs Committee and the Central Committee, completing the formation of the Emergency Response Committee.

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