[Anchor]
Here are today’s political headlines for the 10th.
The Democratic Party of Korea held its first task force meeting this morning to coordinate an economic response to the Middle East crisis and began shaping countermeasures.
We now go to the National Assembly.
Moon Seung-wook, over to you.
[Reporter]
Yes. With international oil prices spiking after the recent turmoil in the Middle East, the ruling party and government said they will consider introducing a fuel price ceiling — a measure not used in some 30 years.
First, here is a related comment on screen.
「Ahn Do-geol / Democratic Party lawmaker」 To block speculative increases in fuel prices that follow market swings, we have decided to introduce a fuel price ceiling. This is an emergency measure we have not taken in 30 years…
The government also plans to exercise a priority purchase right on 6.86 million barrels held by foreign refiners at domestic storage facilities.
Rep. Oh Ki-hyung said South Korea has the right to exercise a priority purchase at market price on those foreign-held domestic supplies.
Officials are also preparing measures to stabilize financial markets.
The ruling party and government said they will fast-track three bills aimed at exchange-rate stability, which include tax incentives for overseas investors, and introduce a new operating framework to adjust the National Pension Service’s currency-hedging ratio to reflect market conditions.
The government will soon release results from a joint probe into roughly 2,000 cases of market disruption, including hoarding and collusion in fuel markets.
The party and government pledged strict sanctions for confirmed violations and vowed to spare no effort to stabilize prices that affect everyday households.
Meanwhile, ruling and opposition parties agreed at today’s meeting of senior deputy floor leaders to hold a plenary session on the 12th to consider about 60 bipartisan livelihood and reform bills, including a special law to promote investment from the United States.
[Anchor]
After yesterday’s party meeting, the main opposition People Power Party again drew a line against the pro–Yoon Suk Yeol “Yoon Again” faction today as it seeks to regain momentum before local elections.
The Nomination Committee signaled it may accept additional registrations, seemingly leaving the door open to Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who initially boycotted registration. Is that correct?
[Reporter]
Yes. At yesterday’s party-wide meeting, all People Power Party lawmakers adopted a resolution formally severing ties with Yoon Suk Yeol.
At today’s meeting, Floor Leader Song Eon-seok said the party must move beyond the past and focus on winning the local elections.
The party’s Nomination Committee began interviews today for key regions. Mayor Oh Se-hoon has not registered, but the committee proceeded with interviews in Seoul, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
Nomination Committee Chairman Lee Jung-hyun appeared to have Oh in mind, saying additional registrations are possible and that the process is wide open.
The remark was widely read as an invitation to Oh and as political cover for a possible late entry.
Here is the quote.
「Lee Jung-hyun / Chairman, People Power Party Nomination Committee」 Additional registrations are possible and the door is wide open. If we find a stronger candidate, we can recruit them through various means…
That increases the likelihood that Oh, who has pushed for a change in the party’s direction, will enter the race.
Today’s first interview was in Daegu, a conservative stronghold.
Because the primary there often determines the de facto general election, local pre-candidates engaged in intense contests during the interviews.
Analysts say the People Power Party has only just begun to patch deep divisions left by the impeachment crisis, and significant challenges remain.
One unresolved issue is a demand to withdraw disciplinary action against former party leader Han Dong-hoon; the party has yet to reach a decision.
In a radio interview today, Han called on the party to stop the purge politics led by the “Yoon Again” faction and to replace those responsible for it.
The party also faces lingering tensions over the party membership status of former member Jeon Han-gil, keeping internal conflict alive.
[Anchor]
The Democratic Party has labeled the People Power Party’s resolution an election stunt, correct?
[Reporter]
That is correct.
The Democratic Party launched a sharp attack, calling the opposition’s resolution a political stunt for electoral gain.
Critics warned that a resolution without personnel changes is meaningless and argued voters will not be fooled by a staged show.
Here is what Floor Leader Han Byung-do said at this morning’s meeting.
「Han Byung-do / Democratic Party floor leader」 We cannot ignore Rep. Jang Dong-hyuk’s recent claim that the late-month declaration of martial law did not amount to an insurrection. He must clearly state that the December 3 emergency martial law declaration was an insurrection…
Meanwhile, internal competition within the Democratic Party ahead of the local elections has intensified.
Jung Won-o, who declared his bid for Seoul mayor, officially announced his campaign committee today and formally launched his primary campaign. Former Rep. Jeon Hyun-hee unveiled a top-10 labor platform for Seoul as she pressed policy priorities.
Rep. Choo Mi-ae, planning to run for governor of Gyeonggi Province, will formally declare her candidacy the day after tomorrow and begin full campaign activities.
Today the Democratic Party held a joint meeting of its central party and city/provincial election commission chairs to reaffirm a “4-no, 4-strong” nomination principle — no unfair cutoffs, no parachute candidates — and to commit to managing clean primaries.
Separately, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik held an emergency press conference on constitutional reform, proposing a phased amendment to strengthen the Assembly’s control over martial law and to put that amendment to a vote alongside local election ballots.
This has been a report from the National Assembly.
[Live connection: Park Seong-hyun]
Yonhap News TV inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23
Moon Seung-wook (winnerwook@yna.co.kr)
