With 'Transition to Emergency Committee' Approved at National Committee Meeting... Decision Expected as Early as the 5th

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Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is leaving the meeting room after a closed highest council meeting held at the National Assembly floor leader's office on the 2nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong and Kwon Hyunji] The leadership of the People Power Party held a closed Supreme Council meeting on the 2nd and passed an agenda to convene the National Committee and the Standing National Committee to transition to an 'Emergency Response Committee system.' Accordingly, the final decision on the launch of the Emergency Response Committee could be made as early as the 5th. However, criticism such as 'resignation show' and 'trickery' has emerged both inside and outside the party regarding the procedures.

Park Hyungsoo, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, said to reporters after the closed Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "The agenda of the Supreme Council meeting was to convene the Standing National Committee and the National Committee," adding, "The Supreme Council originally has nine members, but with Kim Jaewon and Cho Sujin resigning, there are seven members in total. Four out of the seven attended and passed the agenda to convene the Standing National Committee and the National Committee." Four members attended the Supreme Council meeting that day: Floor Leader Kwon Seongdong, Policy Committee Chairperson Seong Iljong, and Supreme Council members Yoon Youngseok and Bae Hyunjin. Supreme Council members Jeong Mikyung and Kim Yongtae, who oppose the transition to the Emergency Response Committee system, did not attend.

To hold the Standing National Committee and the National Committee, a three-day public notice period must be observed. If the notice is issued that day, the Standing National Committee and the National Committee will be held on the 5th. Park, the floor spokesperson, explained, "We plan to decide on the specific schedule and method and proceed as soon as possible," adding, "Since the National Committee requires a three-day prior notice, it will be finalized by this weekend or early next week."

Bae Hyun-jin and Yoon Young-seok, who announced their resignation from the position of Supreme Council members of the People Power Party, are leaving the meeting room after a closed Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly floor leader's office on the 2nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The ball has now moved to the Standing National Committee and the National Committee. The Standing National Committee will consider an agenda for an authoritative interpretation of the party constitution and regulations on whether to regard the current party situation as an emergency. According to Article 96 of the People Power Party Constitution, if an emergency occurs in the party, such as the vacancy of the party leader or loss of Supreme Council functions, an Emergency Response Committee can be established to ensure normal party operations and resolve the emergency. People Power Party lawmakers held a caucus meeting the day before and agreed that it is an emergency situation. The National Committee is expected to consider agendas for amending the party constitution and regulations to appoint the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson and for the appointment itself. The aim is to allow the acting party leader to appoint the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson. Park said, "Currently, the procedure for appointing the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson requires a resolution by the National Committee, after which the party leader or acting party leader appoints the chairperson. We plan to proceed by receiving the National Committee's opinion on adding the acting party leader to this process."

Regarding the nature and operation period of the Emergency Response Committee, including whether to form it on the premise of Lee Junseok's return as party leader, Park was reserved. He said, "It is inappropriate to disclose all details about the nature of the Emergency Response Committee," drawing a line, "That part should be discussed within the Emergency Response Committee once it is formed."

In this situation, Floor Leader Kwon is scheduled to have lunch with senior lawmakers with four or more terms, including National Committee Chairperson Seo Byungsoo and Joo Ho-young, to explain the necessity of transitioning to the Emergency Response Committee system. Seo, who had previously expressed a negative stance on convening the National Committee without justification or grounds, is now likely to convene the National Committee as the conditions have been met by the Supreme Council's resolution that day. Seo told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "Personally, I do not think it is an emergency and believe it is right to proceed with the acting leader system, but as the National Committee Chairperson, if the conditions are met, I cannot refuse to hold the meeting."

Lee Junseok, the party leader, strongly criticized the attendance of Supreme Council members Bae Hyunjin and Yoon Youngseok, who had already expressed their intention to resign, at the Supreme Council meeting that day. Lee posted on his Facebook, "The person who said 'I resign from the Supreme Council today' on July 29 in a voice recording is holding a vote on August 2 because the quorum is insufficient," adding, "Of course, the undead appear even in The Lord of the Rings. Their greed for the One Ring continues." Supreme Council member Kim Yongtae also pointed out, "I feel disillusioned by the Supreme Council members' 'fake resignation' show."

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