People Power Party lawmaker Im Yi-ja, former chair of the National Assembly's fiscal and economic planning committee, leaves the committee chamber with fellow members during a plenary session Thursday. [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Im Yi-ja, former chair of the National Assembly's fiscal and economic planning committee, leaves the committee chamber with fellow members during a plenary session Thursday. [Yonhap]

The People Power Party confirmed three-term lawmaker Im Yi-ja, who represents Sangju and Mungyeong in North Gyeongsang Province, as its new policy committee chairperson at a general assembly meeting Thursday.

Chief floor spokesperson Choi Su-jin announced the decision at a briefing following the meeting.

Im is a former labor activist who served as vice chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. She spent most of her legislative career on the National Assembly's environment and labor committee and chaired the fiscal and economic planning committee during the first half of the 22nd National Assembly.

Within the party, she has held posts including deputy floor leader, emergency committee member, chair of the special committee on labor reform and chair of the special committee on climate crisis response.

The policy committee chairpersonship had been vacant for more than two months after Jeong Jeom-sik, who previously held the post, was elected floor leader on June 10. Im was tapped for the role only on Wednesday.

The prolonged delay fueled speculation about disagreements between the party's two top leaders — PPP Chairman Jang Dong-hyeok and Floor Leader Jeong. Jang's preference is said to have carried greater weight in the final nomination.

Some observers had expected lawmakers at odds with Jang over internal party matters to voice opposition to Im's appointment, but the motion passed as scheduled.

Under the party constitution, the chairperson is appointed by the party leader in consultation with the floor leader and confirmed by a general assembly vote.

The policy committee chair sits alongside the party leader and floor leader as an ex officio member of the supreme council — the party's top decision-making body — and holds full voting rights. The term lasts one year.

Also Thursday, the PPP named lawmakers Kim Mi-ae, Kim Eun-hye and Park Soo-young as deputy policy committee chairs, while Kwak Gyu-taek and Lee Sang-hwi joined the floor leadership team.


mp1256@heraldcorp.com