The arrogance and blind pursuit of power displayed by the pro-Park members of the Saenuri Party have gone too far. The ruling party is suffering internal discord due to the unprecedented "candidate nomination massacre," yet despite fierce criticism from the conservatives and the progressives alike that the ruling party is becoming the private party of the president, it remains nonchalant. Pro-Park members are demanding that the party leader apologize for having raised an issue with the problematic nominations and seem poised to push ahead with the nominations by mobilizing their supporters in demonstrations. People are criticizing that the mainstream in the ruling party is neglecting the difficult economic situation of the citizens and is frantically fighting for power regardless of the sore public opinion.
On March 17, the pro-Park leaders of the Saenuri Party practically held a meeting of the party's supreme council without party leader Kim Moo-sung, who asked to reconsider the latest nominations - an ousting of the non-Park lawmakers - by the nomination management committee. Pro-Park members including floor leader Won Yoo-chul, members of the supreme council Suh Chung-won, Kim Tae-ho, and Rhee In-je and head of the party‘s policy committee Kim Jung-hoon attended an emergency meeting at the majority leader's office in the National Assembly this morning. It was in response to Kim Moo-sung's cancelation of the supreme council meeting the previous day.
Shortly after the meeting, floor leader Won said, "Yesterday, the meeting of the supreme council was adjourned during a vote on the constituencies with upcoming elections for candidate nominations and with a single recommended candidate. It was inappropriate for the party leader to hold a press conference during the recess," and requested an official apology from Kim. At the same time, Won also pressed Kim saying, "He should hold a meeting of the supreme council immediately tomorrow and make sure the candidate nominations are handled quickly." In other words, he demanded an apology from the party leader, who tried to pull the brakes on the "nomination massacre," currently under attack by the public, and pressured him to confirm the nominations. It was practically an armed protest demanding that the party leader get down on his knees and surrender.
Kim Moo-sung met with reporters at the National Assembly and simply said, "There is no need for an apology." However, he added, "We will hold a temporary meeting of the supreme council on March 18 and discuss the nominations."
It appears the pro-Park members will push ahead with the nominations in the nomination committee and the supreme council based on their advantage in numbers. The previous day, the supreme council unanimously voted to reconsider lawmaker Joo Ho-young, and relayed their decision to the nomination committee, but Lee Hahn-koo, the chairman of the committee dismissed the decision in a minute. This day, the outside members of the nomination committee also boycotted a meeting demanding an apology from party leader Kim.
But the majority of the public seems to think that the arrogance of the pro-Park members and how little respect they have for the people have gone too far. There had already been rumors of a "hit list" of incumbent lawmakers; the results of a pre-nomination survey had leaked; and lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, a key pro-Park figure, had stirred controversy with rough words, "Kill Kim Moo-sung." Such incidents had continued to drive the party into internal strife, triggering members to split. Even the conservatives criticized and warned that "This is the political revenge of the president," and "This is no longer a public party, but a private one." Nevertheless, the ruling party continues its reckless drive towards the goal of establishing the "royal guards" for the latter half of President Park Geun-hye's term in office and perhaps for her retirement as well, ignoring the lives and views of the people.
Shortly after the meeting, majority leader Won said, "We are in a serious economic emergency." The morning newspapers this day were plastered with the news that the unemployment rate among the youth reached 12.5%, the highest ever. All indicators related to the economy and the people's financial situation are flashing "red," yet the mainstream in the ruling party are busy with their power struggle. In such a situation, that mainstream referring to the current situation as an "economic emergency" can only be seen as the shepherd boy crying wolf.
On March 17, the pro-Park leaders of the Saenuri Party practically held a meeting of the party's supreme council without party leader Kim Moo-sung, who asked to reconsider the latest nominations - an ousting of the non-Park lawmakers - by the nomination management committee. Pro-Park members including floor leader Won Yoo-chul, members of the supreme council Suh Chung-won, Kim Tae-ho, and Rhee In-je and head of the party‘s policy committee Kim Jung-hoon attended an emergency meeting at the majority leader's office in the National Assembly this morning. It was in response to Kim Moo-sung's cancelation of the supreme council meeting the previous day.
An Exclusively Pro-Park Meeting: Members of the Saenuri Party's supreme council Suh Chung-won, Rhee In-he, and Kim Tae-ho and majority leader Won Yoo-chul (from left) leave after a meeting at the National Assembly on March 17. Gwon Ho-wuk, Senior Reporter
Shortly after the meeting, floor leader Won said, "Yesterday, the meeting of the supreme council was adjourned during a vote on the constituencies with upcoming elections for candidate nominations and with a single recommended candidate. It was inappropriate for the party leader to hold a press conference during the recess," and requested an official apology from Kim. At the same time, Won also pressed Kim saying, "He should hold a meeting of the supreme council immediately tomorrow and make sure the candidate nominations are handled quickly." In other words, he demanded an apology from the party leader, who tried to pull the brakes on the "nomination massacre," currently under attack by the public, and pressured him to confirm the nominations. It was practically an armed protest demanding that the party leader get down on his knees and surrender.
Kim Moo-sung met with reporters at the National Assembly and simply said, "There is no need for an apology." However, he added, "We will hold a temporary meeting of the supreme council on March 18 and discuss the nominations."
It appears the pro-Park members will push ahead with the nominations in the nomination committee and the supreme council based on their advantage in numbers. The previous day, the supreme council unanimously voted to reconsider lawmaker Joo Ho-young, and relayed their decision to the nomination committee, but Lee Hahn-koo, the chairman of the committee dismissed the decision in a minute. This day, the outside members of the nomination committee also boycotted a meeting demanding an apology from party leader Kim.
But the majority of the public seems to think that the arrogance of the pro-Park members and how little respect they have for the people have gone too far. There had already been rumors of a "hit list" of incumbent lawmakers; the results of a pre-nomination survey had leaked; and lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, a key pro-Park figure, had stirred controversy with rough words, "Kill Kim Moo-sung." Such incidents had continued to drive the party into internal strife, triggering members to split. Even the conservatives criticized and warned that "This is the political revenge of the president," and "This is no longer a public party, but a private one." Nevertheless, the ruling party continues its reckless drive towards the goal of establishing the "royal guards" for the latter half of President Park Geun-hye's term in office and perhaps for her retirement as well, ignoring the lives and views of the people.
Shortly after the meeting, majority leader Won said, "We are in a serious economic emergency." The morning newspapers this day were plastered with the news that the unemployment rate among the youth reached 12.5%, the highest ever. All indicators related to the economy and the people's financial situation are flashing "red," yet the mainstream in the ruling party are busy with their power struggle. In such a situation, that mainstream referring to the current situation as an "economic emergency" can only be seen as the shepherd boy crying wolf.
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