Candidates running for the People Power Party's floor leader post said Tuesday that they share a common view that key pending issues — including the future of party leader Jang Dong-hyuk following the local election defeat and the question of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's return to the party — should be reviewed over a longer time frame.
A group of first- and second-term People Power Party lawmakers held an invitational forum for floor leader candidates at the National Assembly that day. Lawmakers Kim Do-eup, Chung Jeom-sik and Sung Il-jong, who are running for floor leader, attended the forum and laid out their visions for running the party.
The three candidates took a cautious stance on Jang's resignation, which has been raised since the election defeat. Rep. Park Sang-woong, who heads the first-term lawmakers' group, said after the forum that on whether Jang should step down, "It does not fit the party constitution and rules for a newly elected floor leader to determine that direction." He added, "We have settled on the view that he should make an honorable decision over a somewhat longer time frame, rather than making any overreaching, pressing demands." Rep. Eom Tae-young, who heads the second-term lawmakers' group, also explained, "The view of all three is that a radical change of the party leadership should be discussed over time, but in a way that allows everyone to part honorably." He explained that there was no discussion of shortening Jang's term, which is scheduled to run until August next year, or of an early resignation.
There was also the view that even if the leadership is held accountable, it should be done after sufficient time has passed. Rep. Eom said, "One of the candidates argued that even in holding the party leadership accountable, there are lessons to be learned from the case of former party leader Lee Jun-seok," adding, "A party leader also needs justification and proper form when stepping down, so I think the remark took that into account."
The three candidates also reached a consensus that Han's return to the party is not a matter to be decided hastily. Rep. Park said, "None of the three candidates has any intention of bringing Rep. Han into the party early," summarizing their position as "they will take sufficient time and make a judgment at ease after he adjusts to the National Assembly." He said all three candidates agreed not to bring the issue of Han's return to the fore for the time being.
