Pressuring for “First-resignation, Then-handling-of-the-situation”

On February 20, close aides to GNP Chairman Choe Byung-yul joined the party’s young representatives, as well as leading representatives in the metropolitan area, in calling for Choe’s resignation. This movement is further amplifying the pressure against Choe.

However, it is known that Choe still has a negative view toward the demand for his resignation.

Various groups of representatives who want to see Choe step down, including a group of first-time and second-time representatives mainly in the metropolitan area united by the cause of saving the party, a group of Daegu and Gyeongbuk representatives, and a group of the party’s leading figures have met with groups opposed to the resignation demand, including Yeongnam representatives, at the National Assembly’s Representatives’ Hall. There, at a meeting with the party’s general affairs manager, Hong Sa-suk, they agreed to a “resign first, handle the situation second, policy.”

After the meeting, pro-resignation Rep. Won Hui-ryong said, “Most of the representatives at the meeting, except for the representatives of the Yeongnam area, agreed on the prompt resignation of Choe, and Secretarial Office Manager Lim Tae-hui carried our message directly to Chairman Choe, who was away from Seoul that day.”

Rep. Yoon Yeo-jun, one of Choe’s closest aides, voluntarily called for Choe’s resignation in a phone call to Choe that same morning.

“I am worried about division within the party, not about my own position,” said Choe according to Strategies and Planning Council Head Hong Joon-pyo

Choe traveled from Gapyeong to another destination in Gangwon Province that day. He will return to Seoul this weekend and hold a press conference on his future course of action on February 22.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com