Alternative and Future, a group of reform-minded lawmakers in the People Power Party, dismissed the early resignation talk surrounding floor leader Song Eon-seog.
Rep. Lee Seong-gwon, who serves as the whip for Alternative and Future, met with reporters after a breakfast meeting at the National Assembly on the morning of the 28th and said, "Because Floor Leader Song's term runs until June 15, after the local elections, it is not desirable for him to step down."
Lee said, "If he resigns now, we would have to go through procedures such as inviting and receiving applications for candidates to elect a new floor leader," adding, "Coincidentally, this timing overlaps with the period when the local elections enter the main race, so we question whether it would really help the elections."
Lee said, "The Democratic Party is likely to have its party leader and floor leader serving as a two-top system to take the helm of the local elections," adding, "We also need the party leader and floor leader to run together to meet party members' expectations, but holding a floor leader election would force lawmakers to come up to Seoul, which would not help the local elections at all. From that perspective, an early resignation of the floor leader and an ensuing election are not desirable."
Lee kept silent on calls for party leader Jang Dong-hyeok to resign.
However, regarding the leadership's message not to shake the party leader, Lee said, "I understand the frustration that, from the leadership's standpoint, its authority is not taking hold," but added, "When each lawmaker talks about their own electoral situation, it is about conveying the public sentiment heard in their districts, so we need to consider the content being conveyed."