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As the Kim Ki-hyun administration of the People Power Party (PPP) has faltered, new candidates for the emergency committee chairman include Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, and Chairman of the National Integration Committee Kim Han-gil. The new emergency committee leader will take on the challenging tasks of targeting the moderate voter base and expanding the party’s outreach to the opposition camp. Each candidate has distinct public recognition, strengths, and limitations, making the choice of leader critical to the fate of the upcoming general election.

According to political circles on the 14th, the candidates for the new PPP emergency committee chairman are Minister Won Hee-ryong, Minister Han Dong-hoon, and Chairman Kim Han-gil. Initially, Ministers Han and Won were considered for the role of election campaign committee chairman, which was scheduled to be launched this month. However, Minister Han is seen as more suitable for leading the election campaign directly to the public rather than serving as the party’s representative. Minister Han has demonstrated his unique rhetoric in pressuring the opposition during the parliamentary process for the arrest consent bill. A PPP floor leader official said, “Minister Han is a good figure, but his role fits better in stirring up the opposition during the campaign rather than serving as the emergency committee chairman,” adding, “It would be like wearing a suit that doesn’t fit if he were to take on the representative role in the emergency committee.”

Minister Won is considered more suitable for the emergency committee chairman position due to his solid political career. He has also gained public support and recognition through his handling of last year’s cargo truckers’ strike. Recently, Minister Won has consistently stated, “I will not hesitate to dedicate myself and lead by example,” highlighting his potential role in next year’s general election.

Kim Han-gil, chairman of the National Integration Committee and reportedly trusted by President Yoon, is noted for his advantage as a former Democratic Party member who can appeal to the moderate camp. However, given the internal conflicts surrounding Kim’s resignation, some believe that the representative role should be filled by someone from within the party who understands its internal dynamics rather than an outsider. A party official commented on Chairman Kim, saying, “He has good political insight,” but also noted, “Since he is from the Democratic Party, it would be difficult to entrust him with party affairs.”

Yoon Jae-ok, Acting Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th. The meeting discussed measures to manage the situation following the resignation of Leader Kim Ki-hyun. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In a situation where redefining the relationship between the party and government is necessary, there is also an interpretation that all three?Minister Han, Minister Won, and Chairman Kim?would find it difficult to distance themselves from the president. On the same day, PPP lawmaker Choi Jae-hyung said on YTN radio, “Looking at what Minister Won has shown so far, it can be said that he is very well in sync with the president,” adding, “We need to consider whether there is anyone who can maintain a tense relationship between the party and government or speak critically about Yongsan.”

Meanwhile, the People Power Party is preparing to activate the emergency committee. Acting party leader and floor leader Yoon presided over a senior members’ joint meeting and a supreme council meeting consecutively at the National Assembly this morning to discuss the transition to the emergency committee. After the meeting with senior members, Yoon told reporters, “There was consensus that we need to select someone who meets the public’s expectations, can gain sympathy, and resolve internal party issues,” adding, “They advised that it would be good to hold a party caucus or gather public opinion to bring such a person on board.”

According to the PPP’s party constitution and regulations, the acting party leader Yoon can maintain his position until early February next year, but with the general election approaching, there is a plan to appoint a new leadership. According to party rules, in the event of a vacancy such as the resignation of the party leader, the acting party leader can decide whether to establish an emergency committee. After former leader Lee was suspended from party membership on July 8 last year, it took about a month until the Joo Ho-young emergency committee was launched on August 9. After the Joo Ho-young emergency committee was halted by a court injunction, it took about 13 days until the appointment of emergency committee chairman Jeong Jin-seok on September 8.

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