Following the defeat in the 6·3 presidential election, the People Power Party, which has been focused on preparing measures to stabilize the party, has decided to hold an early national convention. Considering the usual procedures, it seems likely that the convention will take place in August. The five reform proposals suggested by Kim Yong-tae, the emergency measures chairperson, have been stalled as the party's top leaders have not been able to narrow their differences.
On the 18th, Floor Leader Song Eon-seok held discussions one after another with veteran lawmakers who have served three and four terms, following a meeting with newer lawmakers the previous day, gathering opinions by term. After the meetings, he told reporters, "Many lawmakers agreed that an early national convention is necessary," adding, "We will work to proceed with the national convention as soon as possible."
However, they are currently in a situation where they cannot start the preparations for the national convention. The establishment of the national convention preparation committee and the convention schedule must be approved by the Supreme Committee, but currently, the emergency measures committee, which is equivalent to the Supreme Committee, has effectively ceased to function as members, except for Chairperson Kim, resigned all at once after the presidential election.
Accordingly, a scenario has emerged in which after Chairperson Kim concludes his term on the 30th, Floor Leader Song will either quickly appoint a new emergency measures chairperson or directly assume the role of acting party leader to reorganize the emergency measures committee and prepare for the national convention. Floor Leader Song also responded to such speculation, saying, "That could also be a political decision."
In addition, there are discussions about Chairperson Kim and Floor Leader Song announcing the timing of the national convention together or promoting it at a general assembly.
Floor Leader Song proposed to Chairperson Kim that "it would be better to decide the timing of the national convention together with the floor leader and the emergency measures chairperson or push it forward in the form of a general assembly," to which Chairperson Kim reportedly agreed. Acknowledging the party's consensus to hold the national convention as soon as possible, they aim to indirectly secure procedural legitimacy and formalize the holding of the national convention in the near future.
The issue of the 'five reform proposals' has continued to stall. Floor Leader Song reaffirmed that he would address the issue of the 'five party reform proposals' suggested earlier by Chairperson Kim by forming an internal innovation committee. In contrast, Chairperson Kim has not wavered in his stance that conducting a party member opinion poll to determine whether to pursue the reform proposals is a priority. He criticized the misunderstanding that an innovation committee would stall the process, saying, "If both the chairperson and the floor leader have a strong will to innovate, the reform proposals can be implemented immediately."
There was also a confrontation over the authority to form the innovation committee. According to the party's statutes, special committees like the innovation committee are party bodies that can be established by decisions of the party leader or leadership. In response, Floor Leader Song reportedly stated that the innovation committee could be launched as a parliamentary body.
Chairperson Kim told reporters, "Floor Leader Song said he would consider the innovation committee at the level of a parliamentary body."
As Chairperson Kim maintained the position that the 'party member opinion poll' regarding the reform proposals should be prioritized over the formation of the innovation committee, it seems that a separate procedure has been taken into account. Chairperson Kim remarked, "I need to see what authority exists when it is done as a parliamentary body," adding, "If possible, I would like to request that the coordination of the party member opinion poll on the reform proposals be the first agenda for the innovation committee."