People Power Party lawmakers Song Seok-jun, left, and Kim Yong-tae head to a breakfast meeting of the party’s young-lawmakers group Alternative and Future at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on April 28. [Photo=Yonhap]
A group of first- and second-term People Power Party lawmakers known as Alternative and Future met for breakfast at the National Assembly on April 28, their first gathering in about two months. Participants said they broadly agreed that floor leader Song Eon-seok should serve out his guaranteed term.
Rep. Lee Seong-kwon, the group’s secretary, told reporters after the meeting that with the June 3 local elections underway, “the standard for every decision is winning the election.” He said attendees concluded it was not appropriate to hold a vote to pick new floor leadership at this time.
Lee said the group had not set an agenda in advance, so the view could not be described as Alternative and Future’s official position. Still, he said those present had no disagreement that it would be undesirable for Song to shorten his own term.
Lee dismissed calls from some quarters for a pre-election shake-up in party 분위기, saying such discussions should come after the local election results. “I think the current floor leadership is steering the caucus through the most difficult parliamentary situation in Korean legislative history,” he said. “I understand the hardships, but I ask that they finish strong. Alternative and Future also plans to actively support them.”
Lawmakers at the meeting also pledged to work aggressively for victory in the local elections and said conservatives should pool their wisdom to pursue a more inclusive, additive approach to politics. They did not, however, discuss specifics such as forming an election committee or plans for a broader conservative alliance, according to those familiar with the meeting.
Twelve lawmakers attended, including Lee, Kim Seong-won, Song Seok-jun, Seo Beom-su, Park Jeong-ha, Cho Eun-hee, Choi Hyeong-du, Kim Jae-seop, Ko Dong-jin, Kim Geon, Kim Yong-tae and Woo Jae-joon.
With the argument now raised publicly that Song should complete his term for the sake of election victory, calls for his early resignation are expected to ease for now. Still, Song’s future and the next floor leadership could remain a contentious issue, as the floor leader’s influence could grow depending on the election outcome. If the Jang Dong-hyeok leadership collapses and the party shifts to an emergency committee, the floor leader’s role would be significant because the floor leader would exercise the authority to name the committee chair.
Song said at a press briefing last week that he would “carry out my final duties in a direction focused on winning the election.”
Rep. Lee Seong-kwon, the group’s secretary, told reporters after the meeting that with the June 3 local elections underway, “the standard for every decision is winning the election.” He said attendees concluded it was not appropriate to hold a vote to pick new floor leadership at this time.
Lee said the group had not set an agenda in advance, so the view could not be described as Alternative and Future’s official position. Still, he said those present had no disagreement that it would be undesirable for Song to shorten his own term.
Lee dismissed calls from some quarters for a pre-election shake-up in party 분위기, saying such discussions should come after the local election results. “I think the current floor leadership is steering the caucus through the most difficult parliamentary situation in Korean legislative history,” he said. “I understand the hardships, but I ask that they finish strong. Alternative and Future also plans to actively support them.”
Lawmakers at the meeting also pledged to work aggressively for victory in the local elections and said conservatives should pool their wisdom to pursue a more inclusive, additive approach to politics. They did not, however, discuss specifics such as forming an election committee or plans for a broader conservative alliance, according to those familiar with the meeting.
Twelve lawmakers attended, including Lee, Kim Seong-won, Song Seok-jun, Seo Beom-su, Park Jeong-ha, Cho Eun-hee, Choi Hyeong-du, Kim Jae-seop, Ko Dong-jin, Kim Geon, Kim Yong-tae and Woo Jae-joon.
With the argument now raised publicly that Song should complete his term for the sake of election victory, calls for his early resignation are expected to ease for now. Still, Song’s future and the next floor leadership could remain a contentious issue, as the floor leader’s influence could grow depending on the election outcome. If the Jang Dong-hyeok leadership collapses and the party shifts to an emergency committee, the floor leader’s role would be significant because the floor leader would exercise the authority to name the committee chair.
Song said at a press briefing last week that he would “carry out my final duties in a direction focused on winning the election.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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