Controversy Over 'Party Affairs Intervention'... Pro-Yoon Faction Calls for Reconsideration of Party-Government Separation

Ruling Party Convention Controversy Arises Over Interference in Party Affairs

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the controversy over the president's 'interference in party affairs' heats up the ruling party's convention, voices within the pro-Yoon faction are growing louder, calling for a reconsideration of the separation between party and government.

In advanced countries such as the United States and France, some degree of presidential involvement in party affairs is tolerated. However, outside the pro-Yoon faction, there are criticisms that the party convention has been 'ruined' due to the presidential office's interference in the convention.

On the 13th, People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won met with reporters in front of the National Assembly plenary session hall and referred to the Roh Moo-hyun administration, which advocated 'separation of party and government,' raising his voice by saying, "How many conflicts and problems did the Uri Party cause the administration at that time, and in the end, with just a few percent (%) approval rating, how did the Roh Moo-hyun government leave office?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This came in response to a reporter's question about Kim Ki-hyun's remark that "if a candidate with presidential ambitions becomes the party leader, there is a risk of presidential impeachment." Lawmaker Jang mentioned not only the Roh Moo-hyun government but also the painful histories caused by the separation of party and government, such as the clashes between then-Hanara Party leader Park Geun-hye and the Lee Myung-bak administration, and between former President Park and the Saenuri Party during the Park Geun-hye administration.

He added, "In the case of the United States, the president can support a candidate, and in France, the president is the 'honorary party leader' of the ruling party. That is why responsible politics by the ruling party is possible." This implies that some degree of presidential involvement in party affairs is necessary.

Pro-Yoon People Power Party lawmaker Park Soo-young also stated on his social media, "The so-called 'separation of party and government,' which former President Roh started and later regretted," and asked, "Why do presidential systems like the United States and France assign active roles to their presidents? It is time for a fundamental reconsideration of (the separation of party and government)." In the past, former President Roh posted an article titled "Separation of party and government is not my policy" on the discussion site he created, 'Democracy 2.0,' clarifying that "the separation of party and government was decided by the Democratic Party's constitution and regulations before I became a candidate."

However, voices within the party outside the pro-Yoon faction differ. Kim Young-woo, former lawmaker and election committee chairman of Ahn Cheol-soo's campaign, said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' that "the party convention, which we are trying to do well, is going completely the wrong way," and criticized, "We decided not to use the term 'Yun Hae-gwan (Yoon Seok-yeol's core associates), but now there are many news reports from presidential office officials. Since the Yun Hae-gwan are gone, now 'Daesil-gwan (high-ranking presidential office officials)' are coming out and speaking."

Although he did not speak directly, he criticized the presidential office for effectively interfering in party affairs. He pointed out the presidential office's response, saying, "Why doesn't the presidential office clearly state that it is neutral in this party convention?"

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, also criticized in his speech to the National Assembly negotiation group representatives on the same day, saying, "If only candidate Ahn disappears, the 'People Power Party version of Squid Game' will be complete. The 'Squid Game Frontman' President Yoon's politics of fear is chilling," and demanded, "Immediately stop the president's interference in party affairs, treating the ruling party like a marble in his pocket."

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