Kwon Seong-dong Takes Direct Countermeasure Against Opposition's National Governance Leadership... Attempts Breakthrough by Meeting Ministers Consecutively

Meeting with Ministers from Environment, Foreign Affairs, Unification, and Industry Ministries
Met Deputy Prime Ministers Lee Ju-ho and Choi Sang-mok the Day Before
Checks on Lee Jae-myung and Democratic Party's Leadership in State Affairs
"Close Party-Government Communication as the Ruling Party"

Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is meeting consecutively with government ministers for two days to discuss national administration plans. This is interpreted as a move by the People Power Party to maintain its leadership in national governance as the ruling party, in response to the Democratic Party's pressure to minimize political turmoil following the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol by proposing a National Stability Consultative Body.

Starting from the afternoon of the 17th, Acting Leader Kwon Seong-dong is meeting with government ministers at the National Assembly to discuss national administration under the transition to the acting presidency and Prime Minister Han Deok-soo's system. From 3 p.m. that day, he will meet with Kim Wan-seop, Minister of Environment, and Cho Tae-yeol, Minister of Foreign Affairs. At 4 p.m., he will also meet with Kim Young-ho, Minister of Unification, and Ahn Deok-geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Yonhap News

The previous day, he had met with Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, and Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. Acting Leader Kwon asked Deputy Prime Minister Lee to respond to fake news related to the 2025 university entrance exams, and requested Minister Choi to play a role in revitalizing the domestic economy. The People Power Party plans to officially start high-level party-government consultations on 'national stability' from the 20th, followed by party-government discussions by standing committees and on current issues.

This is interpreted as a strategic move to prevent the Democratic Party from taking over the leadership of national governance before the Constitutional Court conducts the impeachment trial of President Yoon. If Acting President Han Deok-soo exercises veto power, there is a possibility that the Democratic Party may bring up an impeachment motion against the acting president. If the National Stability Consultative Body is formed, the minority People Power Party would lose the means to enforce their policies and check the Democratic Party.

Earlier, on the 15th, the day after the impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed in the National Assembly, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, referred to the People Power Party as the "second party" during a press conference and pointed out, "The exercise of the veto right reflects the policy or political differences between the first and second parties, so rejecting either side could be seen as political bias."

On the other hand, the People Power Party continues to emphasize that it still holds the leadership in national governance and is striking back at the Democratic Party. Acting Leader Kwon Seong-dong said at the morning floor strategy meeting, "I urge public officials to carry out their duties without wavering to ensure that major national issues proceed smoothly," and added, "The People Power Party will continue to work hard to prevent any gaps in national administration through close party-government communication as the ruling party." Regarding the appointment of Constitutional Court justices, he also opposed, saying, "The acting president can appoint justices in the event of a presidential vacancy, but cannot do so during a suspension of presidential duties," and added, "In the past, Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn appointed Constitutional Court justices recommended by the Supreme Court only after the impeachment motion was finally accepted by the Constitutional Court."

Kim Sang-hoon, Chairman of the Policy Committee, also joined in, saying, "As the People Power Party is still the legitimate ruling party, we will continue to handle the current national crisis in an orderly and responsible manner," and added, "Starting this week, the People Power Party will continuously hold various party-government consultations, including high-level party-government meetings and working-level meetings by standing committees on current issues."

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