Kim Yong-tae, chair of the emergency response committee of the People Power Party, expressed on the 6th that he would step down after completing preparations for reform and renewal related to his position.
Kim said on that day at the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, while meeting with reporters, "My term is until June 30, but I will not cling to it. If I can demonstrate the clarity of reform in the remaining period, let the public know what we did wrong, and fulfill the role of reflection, I can wrap it up at any time."
He noted, "I believe we must responsibly acknowledge the agonizing reflection on what we really did wrong and why we received little support from the public at this level of the emergency committee," adding, "If the next management-type emergency committee is formed, we should prepare for a national convention and articulate a vision for the future. A committee that engages in this should address the wrongs of the past administration; discussing it at this committee level is the way to fulfill our responsibilities and to reform."
He added, "I believe the citizens chose us in the hope that our party can change. Continuing the mindset of reform without interruption is my remaining mission."
He also listed as preparatory tasks for reform before the next emergency committee's launch the 'invalidating the party's stance against former President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment' and restoring internal democracy within the party.
Kim, the emergency committee chair, stated, "I think we still have the responsibility to carry out political reform," referring to the invalidation of the party's stance against the impeachment. He continued, "It's not about determining the wrongs of being for or against impeachment; it's about the Constitutional Court's decision to uphold the impeachment of the president and judge it unconstitutional. Accordingly, invalidating the former party stance against the president's impeachment in the current context is the starting point to show reform to many citizens."
He remarked, "In the past, there may have been instances where the party made incorrect judgments when establishing party positions in general meetings," adding, "I will prepare to institutionalize the incorporation of more opinions from party members and many citizens when determining party positions."
Previously, on the 5th, the People's Power Party's moderate faction, 'First Church Meeting,' criticized, "Until now, our party's positions have been determined by senior lawmakers from specific regions," publicly demanding a joint meeting of national committee chairpersons to discuss party reform and changes in leadership structure.
In response, Kim said, "I will arrange a gathering of non-elected committee members in the near future to listen comprehensively to the stories they felt from their respective regions during this presidential election process, the dialogues they had with citizens, and the discussions about how our party should change."
In addition, regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's postponement of handling the amendments to the Public Election Act, the Court Organization Act, and the Criminal Procedure Act in the National Assembly, he remarked, "I positively view (President Lee Jae-myung) listening to my concerns and transitioning after meeting with the opposition leader." He continued, "However, for the sincerity of national unity, the Democratic Party should demonstrate the withdrawal of the (three) bills even today," and requested, "The president and the ruling party leader should establish the spirit of the Constitution and rule of law to avoid any concerns about threats to the separation of powers."
The amendment to the Public Election Act deletes the requirement for 'actions' that constitute false fact disclosure under the election law, while the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act includes provisions to suspend criminal trials if a defendant is elected president during their term. The Court Organization Act aims to increase the number of Supreme Court justices from the current 14. During the last presidential election period, the People Power Party strongly opposed these bills, stating that they were aimed at alleviating President Lee Jae-myung's personal 'judicial risk.'