People Power Party Transitions to Emergency Committee Chair System Amid Turmoil... Task of Managing Political Situation

Factions-Light Parliamentary Figures Mentioned for Emergency Committee
Consideration of National Apology for Martial Law Incident
Within Party, Opinions That "Handling Passenger Plane Accident Comes Before Political Issues" Also Raised

On the 30th, the People Power Party transitioned to an emergency response committee led by Kwon Young-se and began reorganizing the party, which has been thrown into turmoil due to the December 3 emergency martial law incident. Upon his inauguration, the appointed Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se will manage the party, which has been destabilized by the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol, and may also take on the important responsibility of leading an early presidential election if necessary.

At 11 a.m. on the same day, the People Power Party held a nationwide committee meeting online and officially appointed Kwon Young-se as the Emergency Response Committee Chairman through an automated response system (ARS) vote. Kwon’s inauguration as chairman comes 27 days after the December 3 martial law incident and two weeks after former leader Han Dong-hoon’s resignation.

The emergency response committee is reported to be composed of seven members, including Chairman Kwon Young-se, ex officio committee members such as Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong and Policy Committee Chairman Kim Sang-hoon. For the vacant secretary-general position left by Representative Seo Beom-su’s resignation, senior party members like Representatives Park Dae-chul and Lee Yang-su are being considered, and Representative Kang Myung-gu has been appointed as the secretary to the committee chairman. The other committee members will be appointed on the 31st.

With Chairman Kwon and Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong, both five-term lawmakers, forming a two-top leadership, the party aims to stabilize internally. However, since both are former prosecutors and pro-Yoon faction members, criticism has arisen that the party is reverting to a "pro-Yoon party." To end the controversy over a "pro-Yoon leadership session" and minimize internal conflicts, it is expected that committee members with less factional bias and who can communicate with diverse groups within the party will be selected.

There is also consideration of issuing a public apology regarding the emergency martial law situation to restore public trust. Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong mentioned at a press briefing on the 24th, "Many citizens still feel that the apology was insufficient or that no apology was made, so the emergency response committee chairman plans to issue another apology immediately after taking office."

Regarding the Democratic Party’s pressure on the acting President and Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok to appoint three constitutional court justices and accept the dual special prosecutor law (the special prosecutor laws for the internal rebellion and for First Lady Kim Geon-hee), negotiations are also expected. On the morning of the same day, Park Hyung-soo, the People Power Party’s senior deputy floor leader, stated in an interview with MBC Radio, "If the veto (reconsideration request) on the dual special prosecutor law is exercised and it returns to the National Assembly, we are willing to negotiate by deleting unconstitutional provisions."

Kwon Young-se, a member of the People Power Party, is attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

There are also opinions that efforts should be focused on managing the passenger plane disaster rather than politics in Yeouido. This is because Chairman Kwon, as the ruling party leader, holds responsibility for communication with the government regarding the management of the incident and support for victims and their families related to the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster that occurred the previous day at Muan Airport.

Previously, the People Power Party formed a "Muan Airport Passenger Plane Crash Response Task Force (TF)" led by Representative Kwon Young-jin and dispatched it to the site. Chairman Kwon plans to visit the accident site as his first official schedule immediately after completing his inauguration procedures to console the bereaved families and listen to opinions on accident management and measures to prevent recurrence.

A key ruling party official commented on Chairman Kwon’s role, saying, "Managing the aircraft accident is the priority," and added, "Because it is such a major accident, we must devote ourselves fully to recovery and mourning, and there is a recognition that wasteful political strife must be stopped."

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