Leader Vows to Reform Troubled Labor Party
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The Democratic Labor Party (DLP) decided to advance the date of a party convention to Feb. 3 from 17 to pick the next leadership for the party, the party's emergency committee chief said Sunday.
Rep. Sim Sang-jeung said committee members also agreed to present a report on the party's performance for the presidential election and countermeasures to revamp the organization by the end of this month.
Shim is temporarily leading the progressive party on behalf of its leaders who resigned en masse to take responsibility for the defeat in the presidential election.
``During the workshop for committee members, they debated on how to revamp the party in a nine-hour discussion,'' she told conference at the National Assembly. ``They've produced an agreement to make concerted efforts to settle problems facing the party at the earliest possible time.''
First of all, the party convention will take place about two weeks before the original plan to field the leadership for the upcoming Assembly elections.
The party also plans to prepare ways to revive the party after reflecting on its activities shown in the Dec. 19 presidential race.
Its three-time candidate Kwon Young-gill received three percent of the vote, even lower than what he got in the second run.
In addition, it will scrutinize its financial status and suggest measures to reform the financial structure which some party members continuously cast doubts on.
The progressive party is also seeking to break its Pyongyang-friendly image to gain support from a broader range of people.
The April 9 general elections are a major issue for the party as well.
As voters are to pick 299 Assemblymen, it is crucial for the party to set its future course of action right so as to maintain its current status of at least nine seats.
Sim underlined change and innovation to revive the embattled party and stand as a strong opposition party which can protect isolated people.