Kukim Supreme Council to Resume on the 11th... Will It Resolve Internal Party Turmoil?

Scheduled to Hold Top-Level Party Meeting
Challenges Remain in Resolving Internal Party Turmoil

Disciplinary action against Kim Jae-won and Tae Young-ho, Supreme Council members of the People Power Party, is expected to be decided on the 10th. Accordingly, the Supreme Council, which had been virtually inactive, will resume operations on the 11th. Within the party, there have been regretful voices regarding the consecutive cancellations of Supreme Council meetings.

The People Power Party Ethics Committee will hold its 4th meeting at 6 p.m. on the same day to determine the level of disciplinary action. The Ethics Committee had previously decided at its 3rd meeting on the 8th to decide the disciplinary level after hearing explanations from the two Supreme Council members, but postponed the decision, believing that further fact-checking, including additional submission of explanatory materials, was necessary.

Once the Ethics Committee's disciplinary action is finalized that day, the People Power Party Supreme Council meeting is expected to be held on the 11th. Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, responded to reporters' questions at the National Assembly Members' Office Building about whether the Supreme Council would be held the next day by saying, "Of course, the Supreme Council should be held."

The People Power Party usually holds Supreme Council meetings chaired by the party leader every Monday and Thursday, but the two consecutive cancellations on the 4th and 8th have drawn criticism for disrupting the leadership's schedule. There has been speculation that this was to reduce risk by preventing the two Supreme Council members from attending the meetings.

Jang Ye-chan, Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, expressed regret over the Supreme Council not being operational. Through Facebook on the same day, Jang said, "If I had raised the coin allegations against Representative Kim Nam-guk at the Supreme Council over the past few days, the impact would have been much greater," adding, "There are mountains of issues to attack the Democratic Party with, but it is very unfortunate and regrettable that the Supreme Council is on hiatus."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, also viewed the cancellation of Supreme Council meetings due to the risk posed by the Supreme Council members as inappropriate. In an interview with SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the same day, Ha pointed out, "Isn't the Supreme Council meeting being canceled because they are afraid the two Supreme Council members will come?" He continued, "For example, if there is a problematic student, you should make that student stand in the hallway, not stop the teacher from teaching and cause harm to other students," adding, "Not holding class because you are afraid the problematic student will attend is neglect of duty."

After the Ethics Committee's disciplinary action resolves the controversy surrounding the two Supreme Council members, the Supreme Council will bear a heavy responsibility. It must manage the internal turmoil caused by previous Supreme Council controversies and deliver a strong message targeting the Democratic Party's party convention cash envelope allegations and cryptocurrency holding controversies. It also needs to support the government's administration, which is facing criticism over issues such as the safety verification of Fukushima contaminated water.

However, if Kim, the Supreme Council member, does not resign and instead receives a suspension of party membership, the resulting de facto vacancy will remain a Supreme Council issue. During the suspension period, Kim will be unable to attend Supreme Council meetings. Last month, Kim apologized for remarks related to Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and declared self-restraint, subsequently missing Supreme Council meetings for a month. With Tae having voluntarily resigned, attention is focused on Kim's next move.

Regarding this, former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Yong-nam said, "If he resigns cleanly, a new Supreme Council member can be elected, and the Supreme Council can operate as a complete unit."

On the night of the 9th, former lawmaker Kim appeared on YTN Radio's 'Shin Yul's News Face-off' and said, "If he does not resign and receives a severe disciplinary action such as a one-year suspension of party membership, he will not be able to attend or speak at the Supreme Council. If the Supreme Council is held immediately, the leadership will have to continue with a Supreme Council member who cannot attend, which is obviously strange."

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