The People Power Party downplayed President Lee Jae-myung's reshuffle of six government ministries on the 30th as "a reshuffle that runs counter to the will of the people, a U-turn against public sentiment."
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok said at the supreme council meeting on the morning of the 31st that justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won is "the person leading the special counsel to dismiss indictments and the deletion of the breach of trust charge," adding, "No matter how much the public opposes it, this means they will go all-in on canceling the trials."
Jang said, "Even looking at the rest of the minister nominees, it is utterly disappointing," adding, "They nominated the main culprit behind the real estate tax bomb as the minister of economy and finance, and the architect of Lee Jae-myung Gyeonggi Province's basic housing as the minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). No matter what happens to the people, this means they will keep pushing a real estate hell policy."
Jang said, "The anger index of those in their 20s and 30s has surpassed the critical point just before it explodes, yet it is a left-wing hodgepodge from pro-Moon figures to Cho Kuk," adding, "They left in place Kim Yong-beom, the Blue House policy chief whom the public is telling them to oust."
Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik also said, "Through this reshuffle, President Lee declared that he would completely reject the government overhaul demanded by the public."
Jeong said, "Given the current administration's style, dominated by the president's micromanagement, replacing only some cabinet ministers while keeping the Blue House policy line intact means there is not the slightest will to overhaul policy," adding, "It is a subpar left-wing coalition reshuffle to save approval ratings and Lee Jae-myung rather than revive the livelihood economy."
Meanwhile, at the supreme council meeting that day, the People Power Party decided to phase in the direct election by party members for party chapter heads promoted by Jang. The plan was initially to apply it to all 254 party chapter heads, but due to opposition from incumbent lawmakers, it will first apply only to 34 constituencies where the post is vacant.
However, to strengthen "party member sovereignty," the party decided to mandate a 50% weight for "party member evaluations" when assessing party chapter heads nationwide, including incumbent lawmakers, during the regular party affairs audit conducted at the end of this year.
People Power Party secretary-general Chung Hee-yong said, "Regarding the regular method of electing party chapter heads, we considered a 'full adoption of direct elections by party members,' but decided to introduce it gradually and in stages by reflecting in-party opinions from the recent general meeting of lawmakers," adding, "For this year's regular elections, we will follow the existing method, but through open recruitment for problematic party chapters and the party affairs audit, we plan to significantly increase opportunities for party member participation."