Jo Hae-jin: "Kim Jong-in's Emergency Committee is a 'Declaration of Legal Incapacity' and 'Colonial Rule'" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jo Hae-jin, the elected member of the Future United Party for Gyeongnam Miryang·Uiryeong·Haman·Changnyeong, expressed a negative stance, saying that appointing former Chief Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in as the emergency committee chairman would be "declaring themselves as political incompetents." He also opposed the emergency committee system, likening it to "voluntarily submitting to colonial rule due to the party's lack of autonomous capability."

On the morning of the 23rd, Jo posted a statement titled 'Position on the Emergency Committee Controversy' on his Facebook, saying, "An external emergency committee is like voluntarily submitting to colonial rule because the party lacks autonomous capability."

He pointed out, "The reason there was no change in the party despite having an external emergency committee three times during the 20th National Assembly was because the motivation for introducing the external emergency committee itself was the internal members' evasion of responsibility and neglect of party affairs," adding, "Even while bringing in outsiders, we failed to form an outstanding emergency committee that surpassed the renewal concerns and alternatives of party-affiliated lawmakers, party officials, and party members, and the interest and willingness to act of the internal members who became bystanders were weak."

Earlier, former Chairman Kim stated that "if martial law is declared, the constitution is suspended," and set unlimited term and full authority as conditions for accepting the emergency committee chairman position. Regarding this, Jo said, "Asking for full authority not bound by party rules is saying that if he decides, lawmakers and party members must follow without question, which is an insult to the party," and criticized, "If Chairman Kim has such a great reform plan, he should run for party leader in the party convention with that vision to gain the trust of party members, rather than becoming the emergency committee chairman."

Jo also appeared on YTN Radio's 'Noh Young-hee's Start New Morning' that morning, saying, "The idea that someone not elected by the party lawmakers or party members would have unlimited, unrestricted authority, and full power is very undemocratic," and added, "Telling first-term lawmakers, 'Give me full authority, and when I decide, you must follow unconditionally, I must have emergency powers that transcend party rules and regulations' is authoritarian."

He said, "Accepting such a system means our party's decision-making itself is like declaring to the public that 'the 84 elected members of the 21st National Assembly are political incompetents and political incompetents who cannot govern or reform the party themselves,'" adding, "Former Chairman Kim's remarks also sound like 'all 21st Future United Party lawmakers cannot reform themselves, and when I decide, you must follow without question and do as I say.'"

Jo's opinion is that an early party convention should be held instead of an emergency committee. He said, "It is right to quickly hold a party convention to elect new leadership," and added, "During the party convention or floor leader election process, competing over the party's self-renewal and new reform vision to show the public a changed image and a new future blueprint is the right way. Even if an emergency committee is formed, it should focus on preparing for the party convention and minimize its duration."

He also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the emergency committee. Jo said, "The core problem of our party in the 20th National Assembly was having an emergency committee three times during the four-year term," and criticized, "Deciding on an emergency committee system with an emergency committee chairman three times as an abnormal party is like declaring to the public, 'Our party is not normal.'"

He predicted that even if the 'Kim Jong-in emergency committee' is formed, there will be considerable friction. Jo said, "Since it is based on public opinion polls and the majority of incumbent lawmakers and elected members agreeing, it will be difficult for those who do not agree to accept the emergency committee," and questioned, "Even if the Kim Jong-in emergency committee system proposes new good ideas, how can incumbent lawmakers, who are excluded from the reform subjects and reduced to reform targets from the start, implement anything?"

Regarding the merger with the Future Korea Party, he said, "In the end, they should merge," but added, "Considering the current issues with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and various parliamentary operation matters, the positions of the ruling Democratic Party as the first party, our Future United Party as the second party, and the third party as a negotiating group have become important, so strategic aspects must also be considered in making a decision."