Handonghun Nominates Daegu 4-Term Kim Sang-hoon as Policy Committee Chair... Accelerating Senior Party Appointment

Kim Jong-hyuk, Former Deputy Head of Organization, Likely to Become Regional Executive Committee Member
Yeouido Institute Director and Spokesperson Positions Also to Be Finalized Next Week

On the 2nd, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, appointed Kim Sang-hoon, a four-term lawmaker from Daegu·Gyeongbuk (TK) representing Daegu Seo-gu, as the new chairman of the Policy Committee. Leader Han is expected to soon appoint a nominated Supreme Council member to form the Supreme Council with a 5 (pro-Han faction) to 4 (pro-Yoon faction) composition, and to accelerate the appointment of senior party positions such as the head of the Yeouido Research Institute and deputy secretary-general.

Since Leader Han reportedly consulted in advance with Floor Leader Chu Kyung-ho, who is the party’s floor leader, before nominating Kim as the Policy Committee chairman, it is highly likely that the nomination will be approved at the party caucus meeting. At a press conference held at the National Assembly on the same day, Kim said, "(Leader Han) requested that, if possible, both parties cooperate to process livelihood bills and find points of inconvenience for the public so that the National Assembly can take action," adding, "I will devote myself to handling urgent livelihood-related bills." He also expressed his thoughts, saying, "I will faithfully serve as a collaborator who works as one team with the floor leader to overcome the difficult situation facing the party."

Yeouido Interview_Kim Sang-hoon, Chairman of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Born in 1963, Kim passed the 33rd Administrative Examination and worked as a public official in Daegu before entering the National Assembly through the 19th general election. He has served as the secretary of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, secretary of the Special Committee on Political Reform, and chairman of the Planning and Finance Committee. During the 20th National Assembly, he was the deputy chairman of the Policy Committee of the Liberty Korea Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party), and recently he has been recognized as a policy expert serving as the chairman of the Special Committee on Livelihood Economic Stability. His weak factional ties and cautious personality, which help maintain good relationships with fellow lawmakers, are also said to have worked in his favor for the Policy Committee chairman nomination.

Earlier, former Policy Committee chairman Jeong Jeom-sik resigned voluntarily on the 1st, opening the way to finalize the leadership structure. Although Jeong had subtly indicated no intention to resign by attending the Supreme Council meeting, he held a press conference a few hours later and resigned, saying, "I hope the successor Policy Committee chairman, together with Floor Leader Chu Kyung-ho, will definitely win the presidential election three years from now and lay the foundation for regime reestablishment."

Leader Han announced the new Policy Committee chairman the day after Jeong’s resignation because the urgent situation continues due to economic and livelihood issues, the current TMON and WEMAKEPRICE incidents, and the opposition party’s forceful push for livelihood support funds and the Yellow Envelope Act. It was judged that completing the new leadership to respond to these matters was urgent. It is known that former deputy secretary-general Kim Jong-hyuk, a media figure and a pro-Han faction outsider, was selected as the nominated Supreme Council member. In addition, the appointment process for other nominated positions such as deputy secretary-general for organization, deputy secretary-general for strategic planning, head of the Yeouido Research Institute, and spokesperson is expected to be completed by early next week.

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