People Power Party Faces 'Emergency Situation' While Participating in Friendly Soccer Match

Interparty Friendly Soccer Match Held for the First Time in 22 Years
Lee Young-pyo and Kim Byung-ji Appointed as Team Coaches
Dinner Hosted by National Assembly Speaker After the Match

National Assembly Building stock photo / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] The People Power Party is currently reorganizing an emergency response committee under the pretext of an emergency situation on the 29th, and it is causing controversy as they plan to participate in a friendly soccer tournament between ruling and opposition parties followed by a dinner event. Although the purpose is to promote harmony between the ruling and opposition parties ahead of the September regular National Assembly session, questions are being raised about whether it is appropriate for lawmakers to participate in the game amid internal party turmoil.

According to political circles, the 21st National Assembly members will hold a "Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers Soccer Tournament" on the 30th at the National Assembly sports field. This is a friendly soccer tournament where lawmakers from both parties play as players, held for the first time in 22 years.

The ruling and opposition parties appointed Lee Young-pyo and Kim Byung-ji, vice presidents of the Korea Football Association, as managers respectively. The match will be played in two halves of 25 minutes each, and if the teams are tied, the game will end in a draw without penalty shootouts. Each team consists of 12 players, and Song Seok-jun, a People Power Party lawmaker who serves as the secretary for the ruling party in the National Assembly Soccer Federation, and Wi Seong-gon, a Democratic Party lawmaker who serves as the secretary for the opposition party, will participate as captains of their respective teams.

Key players likely to be selected include Kim Hak-yong, Jeong Dong-man, and Park Hyung-soo for the ruling party team, and Han Byung-do, Kim Young-jin, and Jo Oh-seop for the opposition party team. As the 12th special entry, female lawmakers are required to participate. For the ruling party team, the participation of lawmaker Kim Mi-ae is being discussed, while for the opposition party team, lawmaker Im Oh-kyung's participation seems likely.

For this friendly soccer match, the opposition party held practice matches and training sessions on the 16th and 23rd, and the ruling party on the 17th and 24th. The match will kick off with a ceremonial first kick by National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, and a dinner hosted by Speaker Kim will be provided after the game.

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