Rift widens between Yoon and Na Kyung-won

Na Kyung-won during a press conference held in Seoul on Jan. 5. [YONHAP]

Na Kyung-won, vice chair of the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, resigned after conflicting with the chairman, who is President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The resignation was confirmed by Na’s office, and Yonhap reported that the former judge and four-time lawmaker announced her resignation through Chief Of Staff Kim Dae-ki while apologizing to Yoon for causing concerns.

Na was appointed by Yoon to lead the committee on Oct. 14.

Na recently said at a press conference that Korea should adopt a policy similar to that of Hungary, where couples who marry can borrow loans of up to 40 million won, which can be written off when they have three children.

The President’s office immediately said Na had not consulted with the president’s office and that trying to solve Korea's low-birth rate with such policies would not work.

The president’s office said Na's suggestion did not align with the current government’s direction and stressed that it was a personal opinion.

There has been speculation that the conflict is tied to an upcoming election within the People Power Party to pick its leader.

Na has been leading in polls of PPP supporters. Yoon is supporting another contender, Kim Gi-hyeon, a four-term lawmaker.

Na has not yet officially announced a bid for the top PPP position.

This time, the chairman and Supreme Council members will be entirely chosen through ballots by party members. Previously, public opinion polls were also factored in.

“The resignation does not mean that Na will be running for PPP chairman,” said an official from Na’s office.

Na ran for the PPP leadership in June 2021 and was the runner up with a 37.1 percent score, compared to the winner Lee Jun-seok's 43.8 percent.

If the public opinion poll factor is stripped out of that result, Na would have won over Lee 40.9 percent to 37.4 percent.

Na is a veteran conservative politician, but is not considered close to Yoon.

Na has avoided public appearance since the press conference last week. The PPP had a New Year event in Gyeonggi attended by all of the candidates for PPP leader including Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Gi-hyeon. Na did not.

Ahn, who made his run official on Monday, stressed his contribution to Yoon winning the presidential election last year.

“If I didn’t unite with President Yoon, our party today wouldn’t have existed,” Ahn stressed.

Ahn, a former presidential candidate, said he resented that some party members don’t consider him a true member of the PPP.

Ahn refrained on commenting on Na’s resignation.

BY LEE HO-JEONG, KIM JUN-YOUNG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]