People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu [Yonhap]

Kim Tae-gyu, the People Power Party's chief floor spokesperson, said Monday that if the party leader has reason and justification to step down, the resignation process will naturally follow, and that disciplinary proceedings should proceed on their own track.

Speaking on YTN Radio that day, Kim said, "Should the fact that disciplinary proceedings are underway mean the leader resigns when he otherwise wouldn't, or stays on when he otherwise would? That makes no sense."

He said he does not view the situation as a disciplinary phase, adding, "Disciplinary action within a party can happen when there is a need for it, and if there are no grounds for discipline, it may not happen at all."

Kim then said it was likely the party leader was speaking in terms of principle — that it is undesirable for party discipline to break down through violations of party rules and the party constitution, and that such matters can be corrected through proper procedures.

On the People Power Party general assembly held July 2, Kim said the party's overall position was that compromising while losing the moral high ground made no sense — not when gaining one or two prized committee seats would come at the cost of blocking the withdrawal of indictments and abandoning the party's longstanding goal of upholding checks and balances.

He went on to say that clearly informing the public about what is right and how wrong the other side's actions are is an important part of politics, and that continuing to make that case is one way of practicing principled politics.

Kim said the party's fundamental position is that it cannot accept the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials being used in this manner, nor the insistence on controlling the judiciary committee in disregard of checks and balances, and that the party's stance will depend on what the ruling party does.

He also said it would be wrong for the PPP to take the initiative and demand to know how long the other side intends to continue, adding that it is more appropriate to hold accountable those causing the problem and question their motives.


mp1256@heraldcorp.com