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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Ruling party defers vote on re-electing all local chapter chairpersons

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • South Korea's ruling People Power Party deferred a decision on re-electing all 254 local chapter chairpersons, including incumbents.
  • The party cited concerns that the proposal's intent was being distorted and that a hasty decision was unwise.
  • The deferral aims to allow for a more balanced and rational conclusion after further discussion and consultation with party members.

The People Power Party leadership has postponed a vote on re-electing all 254 local chapter chairpersons, a move that would have included current officeholders. The decision to defer the vote came after concerns were raised that the proposal’s true intentions were being misinterpreted, making a swift conclusion premature.

The direct election of chapter chairpersons was not discussed today and was not included in the agenda.

— Park Seong-hoonThe spokesperson for the People Power Party explained the deferral of the vote on re-electing local chapter chairpersons.

Party officials stated that the proposal for direct election of chapter chairpersons was initially intended to reorganize the party structure for the upcoming general election. However, due to perceived distortions of its purpose, the leadership decided it was too early to finalize the decision. The aim is to reach a more balanced and rational outcome through further deliberation.

There were concerns that the sincerity of the proposal was being distorted, and it was deemed too early to reach a conclusion today.

— Park Seong-hoonThe spokesperson elaborated on the reasons for postponing the decision on the party chapter elections.

Prior to this decision, members of the People Power Party had voiced opposition to the blanket resignation of chapter chairpersons during a general meeting. Some supreme council members also reportedly conveyed their concerns to the party leader. Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja emphasized that the reorganization of local chapters should not appear as an attempt to privatize the party or oust specific factions. She advocated for a unanimous decision on reforms, including the direct election of chairpersons, rather than a majority vote.

Party chapter reform should not be seen as an attempt at privatization or ousting specific factions.

— Yang Hyang-jaA supreme council member of the People Power Party expressed her views on the proposed reforms.

Party spokesperson Park Seong-hoon clarified that while some supreme council members expressed their views, the party leader has been gathering opinions from various lawmakers. He stressed that the leader's stance on direct elections has not retreated or been reconsidered from scratch, but rather the final decision is still pending.

The party chapter chairperson direct election is not retreating or being reconsidered from scratch.

— Park Seong-hoonThe spokesperson clarified the party leader's stance on the proposed direct elections for chapter chairpersons.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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