The Democratic Party to Hold National Committee Meeting on the 9th... "If the Emergency Committee is Launched, Party Leader Lee Jun-seok Will Lose Authority" (Comprehensive)

Assemblyman Seo Byeong-su, Chair of the People Power Party National Committee, Holds Briefing at National Assembly on the 3rd
Standing National Committee Meeting Scheduled for the 5th

Seo Byung-su, Chairman of the People Power Party National Committee, holds a press conference on the 3rd at the National Assembly Communication Office regarding the composition of the National Committee and the Emergency Response Committee./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok, Geum Bo-ryeong, Kwon Hyun-ji] The People Power Party has decided to hold the Standing National Committee on the 5th and the National Committee on the 9th. This is to discuss amendments to the party constitution and regulations for transitioning to an Emergency Response Committee system. If the Emergency Response Committee is launched, it seems unlikely that the party leader will return, as the previous leadership is considered dissolved upon the committee's establishment.

Seo Byung-soo, a member of the National Assembly and chairperson of the People Power Party’s National Committee, said at a briefing at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 3rd, "We plan to hold the Standing National Committee, which has the authority to review the party constitution amendment proposal, on the 5th at 10:30 a.m. in the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Meeting Room 1." He added, "The National Committee must be announced three days prior to the meeting, so it will be held at 9 a.m. on the 9th to approve the party constitution amendment."

Seo continued, "We plan to complete all procedures required by the Standing National Committee and National Committee by the 10th at the latest. However, since some complex procedural confirmations are needed, it might be delayed by a day or two."

When asked if the party constitution amendment and the appointment of the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson could be done on the same day, Seo answered affirmatively. He explained, "It is possible. The amendment to the party constitution grants the acting chairperson the authority to appoint the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson. The next step would be to resolve the appointment of the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson."

He added, "Whether to proceed continuously in the same National Committee session or to change the session will be decided based on the situation."

Regarding the term of the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson, Seo urged a decision from Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong. When asked if the term would be decided by the National Committee, Seo said, "That is an issue. Once the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson is appointed, questions will arise about the nature of the committee and how long it will last. Personally, I think this should be decided before the Standing National Committee or National Committee convenes. I believe there are many people, including Acting Chairperson and Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong and other Supreme Council members, who need to discuss this. As the chairperson of the Standing National Committee, I emphasize the need to clarify the nature and duration of the committee as soon as possible."

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is 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-joo doso7@

Seo also stated, "Regardless of the nature of the Emergency Response Committee, once it is launched, the leadership called the Supreme Council will be dissolved. The Emergency Response Committee Chairperson will hold the party leader’s authority, and the previous leadership will be automatically dissolved, meaning that Lee’s authority as party leader will also cease."

Within the party, there are voices suggesting that the Emergency Response Committee should be launched with a six-month activity period to leave the door open for Lee’s return. Seo responded, "I think that is impossible. As soon as the Emergency Response Committee is formed, the Chairperson holds the party leader’s authority, so Lee will be automatically dismissed."

Regarding the possibility of Lee taking legal action such as an injunction against the launch of the Emergency Response Committee, Seo only said, "There are concerns."

He also expressed the need to find a political solution. While acknowledging it as a "leadership decision," he said, "Since we are politicians, rather than resolving this legally, it is necessary to communicate and find a win-win solution. To help the party quickly regain stability, rather than confront each other antagonistically, it is important to communicate so that Lee can resign honorably and find a way to continue politically, thereby resolving the issue."

Meanwhile, Seo said he intends to seek an authoritative interpretation from the Standing National Committee regarding the judgment that Lee’s party membership suspension was an 'accident.' If the Standing National Committee interprets it as a 'vacancy' rather than an accident, Kwon Seong-dong, acting party leader and floor leader, would become acting party leader without changes to the party constitution and regulations, allowing the appointment of the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson without amendments.

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