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| The National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul / Korea Times photo by Hong In-kee |
By Nam Hyun-woo
Mixed opinions have been raised within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) over a scenario of appointing President Yoon Suk Yeol as "honorary party chairman" for unity between the government and the party.
The PPP's pro-Yoon faction showed positive responses to the scenario, saying the president's pledges are the same as the party's official promises to the public. But those outside of the faction are criticizing it for making the party "a liaison office of the presidential office."
During a PPP forum at the Assembly, Wednesday, Rep. Lee Chul-gyu, who is described as one of the three closest lawmakers to Yoon, told reporters that appointing Yoon as honorary chairman is "possible."
"I don't know who floated this idea first, but it is a possible scenario," Lee said. "During the presidential election, Yoon made election pledges, which are the same as the party's official promises."
The scenario came up after TV Chosun reported that debates are ongoing among the ruling bloc over appointing Yoon as an honorary party chairman for greater synergy between the party and the government.
During a radio interview with broadcaster BBS, Kim Haeng, a member of PPP's interim leadership committee, said "you cannot separate the party and the government" and showed a positive response to Yoon becoming honorary chairman proposing that "closer relations between the president and the party means greater responsibility in politics."
These triggered strong opposition from those outside of the pro-Yoon faction.
Chun Ha-ram, a candidate for the PPP chairman election, said in a radio interview with broadcaster KBS that "it is hard to understand what 'honorary chairman' means."
"A party with 800,000 members has various ideas, thus it is natural to see some critical opinions on the president's policies," Chun said. "Are we talking about making the party a liaison office of Yongsan?" Yongsan refers to the district of Seoul in which the presidential office is located.
Kim Yong-tae, a candidate for PPP's supreme council member election, wrote on Facebook that "The ultimate purpose of those who are calling for the party and the government to become a single entity is so that the president can exercise his influence in the recommendation process of the party's candidate recommendations for next year's general election."
In the past, Korea has seen former presidents serving as the head of the ruling party. Former President Chun Doo-hwan served as the leader of the ruling Democratic Justice Party from 1981 to 1987, followed by Roh Tae-woo from 1987 to 1990.
Former Presidents Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung also wore two hats as the country's chief executives and ruling party leaders. From 2003, however, former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in maintained their membership in their ruling parties but did not take the helm of them.
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