On the 8th, a day before the People Power Party's general assembly, Chairperson Kim Yong-tae announced the party reform plan. Key points include holding a party convention in September, invalidating the party line against the impeachment of the president, investigating the unjust replacement of presidential candidates, and implementing a 100% bottom-up nomination process (recommending candidates by selecting them through party members and public opinion polls).
At first glance, this reform plan seems to support the claims of the pro-Park faction, but it is interpreted in the political arena that it will be difficult to materialize. The pro-Yoon faction has maintained that the party should continue with the emergency committee system.
The People Power Party is set to hold its general assembly on the 9th and elect its floor leader on the 16th. There is a significant possibility that the new floor leader will overturn Chairperson Kim's reform plan.
Among the candidates for the new floor leader are five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who previously served as the floor leader during the opposition days, four-term lawmaker Kim Do-eup, who is regarded as rational and with a light factional color, and three-term lawmaker Kim Sung-won from the metropolitan area.
Following Chairman Kim's announcement that day, former emergency committee member Kwon Young-se expressed his regret through his Facebook, stating, "The classification of the consolidation between candidate Kim Moon-soo and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as 'unjust' from the beginning is a very inappropriate expression that raises doubts about the neutrality of the investigation procedure that will happen in the future."
He pointed out, "My resignation was made in the context of taking responsibility for the failure of consolidation, and it is certainly not an acknowledgment of the illegality and unfairness of the consolidation."
Former Youth Chairperson Jang Ye-chan of the pro-Yoon faction noted, "I respect the message presented today for party reform," while adding, "I will watch whether this leads to a genuinely fair reform, rather than favoring specific factions."
He also mentioned that it would be fair only if two additional agendas were added: the replacement of the Party Audit Committee Chairperson Yoo Il-jun, who is the closest aide to former representative Han Dong-hoon and responsible for the previous proportional representation nomination turmoil, and the party audit of the manipulation of public opinion through family comments on the party member bulletin board, which is a major cause of factional conflict.
On the other hand, supporters of the pro-Han faction are showing a receptive mood. Lawmaker Park Jung-ha expressed support for the struggles of the young chairperson, stating, "I feel a refreshing downpour on a midsummer day after a long time," and emphasized, "We cannot be trapped by the familiar anymore; we must break through to ultimately win."
Lawmaker Choi Hyung-du, who is serving his second term, raised his voice, stating, "The schedule for the party convention and all the agenda items should be decided by a vote among party members," and added, "The urgent need for new leadership through a swift member vote and party innovation is critical."
Former standing advisor Kim Mu-sung, a party elder, remarked, "Chairperson Kim has maintained stability amid adverse conditions," urging, "Please hold the party convention after completing reforms to the nomination system and the separation of party leadership and presidential authority to rebuild the party."
Commentator Choi Soo-young stated, "With the party leader's term ending on the 30th, it seems clear that there was an intention to raise the issue of reform before the general assembly, but whether there is the power to enforce this is another matter."