"We Agreed Not to Act Like Ryu Ho-jeong"... The Background Behind Heo Eun-ah Throwing Away Her Gold Badge

"I Will Do Less Embarrassing Politics"
Loss of Parliamentary Seat if Leaving Proportional Representation
Kim Eun-hee Expected to Succeed

Heo Eun-ah, a People Power Party lawmaker who joined the "Lee Jun-seok new party," explained the background of her resignation by saying, "The hardest part was having to act differently from myself while following the party line."

On the 4th, Heo appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" and said, "I apologize to the people, but personally, I feel more relieved after putting down my badge," adding, "I thought about how I could maintain respect for our party while doing the politics I want to do, politics that is a little less shameful to the people." According to the Public Official Election Act, as a proportional representative, Heo will lose her seat upon leaving the party. Once Heo's resignation is processed, Kim Eun-hee, a tennis coach who is next in line on the proportional representation list, is expected to succeed her seat.

Heo judged that there were limits to staying in the party and voicing criticism. She lamented, "No matter how much I struggled, I judged that party change was difficult," adding, "When I raised my voice at closed-door party meetings, it just ended with them listening, and when I criticized on broadcasts, I was insulted." She continued, "In fact, I have had many good times in the party until now, so the balance sheet between reason and emotion kept flashing before my eyes," adding, "I respect those who choose to stay in the party and their methods may be right, but my current choice is to act as the Heo Eun-ah I am."

Heo Eun-ah, a member of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference on leaving the party at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

She also pointed out that the party had not changed even after the crushing defeat in the Gangseo District Office by-election last October. Heo said, "There were moments when I thought the People Power Party needed to deeply reflect after the Gangseo District Office by-election," adding, "After that, the Innovation Committee appeared with a bang, but only things like Representative Jang Je-won's (withdrawal from the election) and former leader Kim Ki-hyun's resignation remained. Is this really a change?"

Heo also gave a low evaluation of the innovation potential of Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee chairman who took office on the 26th of last month. She said, "They brought in someone called the second-in-command of the regime, but I felt they kept ignoring the essence and playing hot potato," adding, "With this kind of evasion and embellishment, they will face harsh judgment, and this could lead to the collapse of conservatism." She also added, "I understand the desire to create a dynamic between Chairman Han and Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, but the people are currently expecting a dynamic between the President and Chairman Han."

Heo's resignation has become a topic of discussion in contrast to Ryu Ho-jeong of the Justice Party. Ryu, also a proportional representative, declared joining "New Choice," led by former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, but remained in the Justice Party and faced criticism. Losing a seat means losing benefits such as salary and staff hiring, and any remaining campaign funds are transferred to the original party.

Cheon Ha-ram, the preparatory committee chairman of the Reform New Party, said on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" that day, "I openly told Heo not to act like Ryu," adding, "People who talk about reform and new trends shouldn't be petty." Cheon said, "Although she set a resignation date and kept that promise, she was effectively preparing to start a separate household, so from the perspective of People Power Party supporters, it was an act harmful to the party," adding, "So I apologized to Heo, but I said I hope the contradictory situation of continuing harmful acts while preparing new politics will end."

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