Kim Yong-tae Announces Plans for National Assembly Meeting and Reform Initiatives
On June 8, Kim Yong-tae, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party (국민의힘), stated that preparations are underway to hold a party convention by early September. During a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, he emphasized the importance of conducting the upcoming local elections under an elected party leadership rather than the current emergency committee structure, which he sees as crucial for the revival of conservatism and success in the elections. This announcement follows his previous reform proposals, including a ban on presidential interference in party affairs, which were introduced last month.
Kim also clarified that he has no intention of running in the upcoming convention. He outlined a plan to nullify the party's stance against presidential impeachment, aiming to resolve the internal conflicts between pro- and anti-impeachment factions. He noted that the party has been unable to move past the serious divisions and resentments stemming from two impeachment attempts.
He stated, "To fundamentally resolve the conflicts within the party, I will push for the nullification of the anti-impeachment stance through discussions in the general assembly. Without addressing this issue, the next party convention will merely become a battleground for pro- and anti-impeachment debates."
Kim further indicated that if the nullification process is successful, any public hostility or distortion of facts regarding impeachment discussions over the next three years will be treated as unacceptable behavior.
However, he made a clear distinction between opinions on impeachment and support for the state of emergency declared on December 3. He expressed that while differing views on impeachment will be tolerated, any party officials, including elected representatives, who support the previous state of emergency will face disciplinary action from the ethics committee.
Additionally, Kim addressed the controversy surrounding the candidate replacement during the last presidential election, promising to investigate the circumstances and hold accountable those responsible for any unjust actions.
In a direct attack on President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party (더불어민주당), Kim questioned whether the presidency should serve as a shield against ongoing legal proceedings, specifically referencing upcoming trials related to election law violations and illegal remittances to North Korea. He labeled the Democratic Party's proposed amendments to election laws and criminal procedure as the 'Presidential Shield Laws' and demanded clarity on whether these changes are intended to benefit the president personally.
