Yong-tae Kim, Chairperson of the People Power Party Emergency Response Committee, met with out-of-parliament district committee Chairpersons on the 10th and proposed a 'survey of all party members' on his five major party reform plans. Kim noted, 'If the mainstream and vested interest lawmakers of the party refuse to struggle, I also think it's meaningless to complete my term,' reiterating his resolve.
On this day, Chairperson Kim held a meeting with about 70 out-of-parliament district committee Chairpersons in the basement of the central party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, starting from 2 p.m.
During the meeting, Kim met with reporters and said, 'The fifth reform proposal is the minimum requirement for the People Power Party to reflect on the past and be trusted by the public in the future,' and explained that 'asking thoughts on the reform plan through a party member survey is the most democratic and fair way.'
In the lawmaker general assembly the previous day, Chairperson Kim also proposed a 'vote of all party members' on the five major reform plans, but it was virtually nullified within the National Assembly. Therefore, it is interpreted that he sought a breakthrough by meeting with out-of-parliament district committee Chairpersons and proposing to conduct a 'survey'. On the 8th, Chairperson Kim announced the five major reform plans as ▲ holding a national convention in early September to elect new leadership ▲ nullifying the party's anti-impeachment stance ▲ audit of party affairs for attempts to change presidential candidates ▲ improving systems to reflect public sentiment and party sentiment ▲ bottom-up nomination for local elections.
However, it is reported that opinions on Chairperson Kim's reform plan and the 'survey' were divided at the meeting.
Spokesperson Jeon-ae Kang, who attended the meeting, told reporters, 'There was a consensus on the need for reform (overall),' but added, 'It is difficult to say there was a consensus on the Chairperson's term and the reform plan. It was not a completely settled atmosphere today.'
It was also noted, 'There are those who agree with the survey, and others who question whether the Chairperson Kim, with his term almost over, should pursue the reform plan.'
After the meeting, Chairperson Kim again met with reporters and expressed disappointment by saying, 'What I felt from talking with the lawmakers and out-of-parliament Chairpersons is that we seem like a party that won an election. I'm not sure if we have the will to reflect bitterly on why we weren't chosen and to change from the past.'
He reiterated, 'If the mainstream and vested interest lawmakers refuse to struggle, I also think it's meaningless to complete my term,' and requested that 'lawmakers give an answer on whether or not to pursue the reform plans.'
Meanwhile, the out-of-parliament district committee Chairpersons requested a 'concurrent meeting between in-parliament and out-of-parliament'. They pointed out that the in-parliament lawmakers' general assembly is dominated by lawmakers from the Yeongnam region, which distorts public sentiment as voices from certain regions are overrepresented while those from the metropolitan area and other regions are relatively underrepresented.
Chairperson Kim responded to this demand by saying 'it's reasonable' and added, 'I will mention at tomorrow's general assembly that a concurrent meeting between in-parliament lawmakers and out-of-parliament district committee Chairpersons will be held soon.'
The People Power Party will hold a 'field lawmaker general assembly to prevent the destruction of the constitution' in front of the Seoul High Court on the morning of the 11th and then continue discussions on party reforms in the National Assembly at 2 p.m.