First-term Voices Emerging at Every Decisive Moment in the Ruling Party

A First-Term Ruling Party Lawmaker Aligned with Living Power
Is the First-Term Lawmakers' Joint Petition Poem Appropriate? Internal Criticism Also Raised

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As 48 first-term ruling party lawmakers raise their voices against former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, the 'power of first-termers' is drawing attention. They are showing their presence by joining voices with the party's 'Pro-Yoon (친윤)' faction. However, there are also criticisms that the voices of 'Anti-Yoon (비윤)' first-term lawmakers are being marginalized and that they are excessively voicing factional interests.

On the 17th, 48 first-term members of the People Power Party, including Kang Dae-sik, issued a statement urging, "We call on former lawmaker Na to officially apologize to the President. Do not continue down the wrong path that divides the party and the President." They raised their voices, saying, "We earnestly ask you to courageously apologize and walk the right path befitting a four-term senior former lawmaker." The statement included the names of 76% of the 63 first-term ruling party lawmakers.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

It was pointed out that former lawmaker Na's claim on social media that "the President's dismissal was not intentional" distorted the President's intentions. The Presidential Office immediately rebutted, stating, "The dismissal was a decision based on the President's accurate fact-finding," leaving former lawmaker Na with no standing. Second-term lawmakers are also expected to follow the first-term lawmakers and issue a statement.

The People Power Party has a total of 63 first-term lawmakers, accounting for more than half of the party's total 115 lawmakers. It is said that first-term lawmakers are virtually the 'largest faction.' They have always raised their voices at critical moments within the party. In July, they issued an anonymous statement agreeing to the transition to an emergency committee, and in November, first-term lawmaker Lee Yong publicly criticized floor leader Joo Ho-young for expelling senior presidential office officials during a party meeting, an unprecedented event.

However, rather than showing the freshness and determination of political newcomers, there are criticisms that the Pro-Yoon faction uses them to voice factional interests when they are in crisis or find it difficult to act directly.

Cheon Ha-ram, chairman of the People Power Party's Suncheon Gap district in Jeollanam-do, said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 18th, "I really think this is going too far. Is this really necessary?" He criticized, "If you are circulating a petition, it should be about a very important issue to the public or resistance against massive injustice. The Presidential Office has already issued a statement, so piling another stone on former lawmaker Na, what is the point?"

Among the 48 signatories, lawmaker Park Soo-young shared on her social media a poll showing former lawmaker Na dropping from first to second place, emphasizing the rising trend of lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun, a 'Yoon-sim (윤심)' candidate.

Park said, "The three polls released today are almost similar, showing Kim Ki-hyun's rise and Na Kyung-won's decline." Likewise, lawmaker Hwang Bo-seung-hee, who also participated in the statement, shared the same poll results and said, "The party is noisy inside. We can only apologize to the people. However, the important thing is that the party leader who can best lead our party is chosen and does well," indirectly supporting lawmaker Kim.

It is also problematic that Anti-Yoon faction members are excluded while Pro-Yoon faction lawmakers dominate the atmosphere. When asked on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' why she was not included among the 48 first-term lawmakers, Anti-Yoon first-term lawmaker Heo Eun-ah said, "I was not contacted. It is true that I was not included among the 48," adding, "I think I was labeled as Anti-Yoon." Along with her, lawmaker Kim Woong, also classified as Anti-Yoon, is reported to have not been contacted either.

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