Kwon Seong-dong Entrusted with Emergency Committee Appointments by First- and Second-Term Members... "Three Candidates Shortlisted" (Comprehensive)

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is greeting participants connected via video at the video conference for checking typhoon damage held at the National Assembly on the 6th./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kwon Hyun-ji] As Park Ju-seon, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, is reportedly the leading candidate for the new Emergency Response Committee Chairperson of the People Power Party, Kwon Seong-dong, the party’s floor leader who is acting as the party representative, held a meeting with members on the 6th and was entrusted with the authority to appoint the committee chairperson. It is known that the candidates for the chairperson have been narrowed down to three, including both lawmakers and non-lawmakers.

After finishing a meeting with first-term lawmakers at the National Assembly in the afternoon, Floor Leader Kwon told reporters, “There are about three candidates. I will contact them and announce the decision around tomorrow afternoon.”

According to Yoon Doo-hyun, acting chairman of the People Power Party’s National Committee, first-term lawmakers at the meeting entrusted all authority regarding the Emergency Response Committee appointments to Floor Leader Kwon. Earlier that morning, he also held a meeting with senior lawmakers with three or more terms at the National Assembly and was entrusted with the appointment authority.

Former Emergency Response Committee Chairperson Joo Ho-young, who was initially a leading candidate, announced at a press conference that he would not take the position. Meanwhile, Park, a four-term lawmaker from Honam region of the Democratic Party and former Deputy Speaker, has been strongly mentioned as a candidate for the chairperson.

Regarding this, Floor Leader Kwon said, “Nothing has been decided yet,” and “I will talk about the candidates once the decision is made.” When asked whether the new chairperson would be a lawmaker or a non-lawmaker, he replied, “I will say later,” withholding further comments.

The new chairperson is expected to be decided between the afternoon of the 7th and the morning of the 8th. Floor Leader Kwon said, “If I mention the candidates first and it doesn’t work out, it could hurt those people, so I will announce it late on the 7th or on the morning of the 8th.” When asked if there is public opinion within the party that Floor Leader Kwon should continue his role, he answered, “That is not the case.”

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending a video conference to check typhoon damage with city and provincial party chairpersons held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Jeong Jin-seok, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, who attended the meeting, also said, “The appointment of the Emergency Response Committee Chairperson is entrusted to Floor Leader Kwon, and we agreed on that,” adding, “The floor leader will listen to the opinions of senior lawmakers as well as first- and second-term lawmakers and make a decision after gathering them.” When asked if his name was mentioned as one of the candidates for the chairperson, Jeong replied, “I have clearly stated that I have no intention to take the position.”

Regarding the mention of non-lawmaker candidates, lawmaker Kim Tae-ho said, “We are keeping all options open, intending to bring in a good person who can communicate and empathize with the people.” He predicted that the new leadership would be formed around September 19-20, after Chuseok.

Lawmaker Cho Hae-jin conveyed the atmosphere of the meeting, saying, “There were also voices of concern about what would happen if a provisional injunction is granted when the new Emergency Response Committee Chairperson is appointed.”

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