Na Kyung-won, former lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), answers questions from reporters as she leaves the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Na Kyung-won, former vice chairperson of the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, is at a crossroads in her bid for the chairpersonship of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) after President Yoon Suk Yeol removed her from two ministerial positions. She had offered to resign from one of the posts, Friday.

She voiced her intention to resign through a text message sent to Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki, Tuesday, and submitted her official resignation to the committee, Friday. Some pundits interpreted the resignation as her intention to run in the upcoming PPP leadership contest in March.

It remains uncertain what the president has in mind. But some speculate that Yoon's dismissal means that he does not want the judge-turned-politician to run in the PPP's leadership contest. One thing that is certain is that if Na, a veteran lawmaker and the first female floor leader of the conservative party from 2018 to 2019, declares her bid for the leadership contest, her presence will certainly endanger male candidates who are close to the president.

Na's action came after the presidential office said it cannot process her resignation as she had not officially submitted a letter of resignation. Na was expected to speak about her decision, but remained quiet and her aide submitted the resignation on her behalf.

Despite the reactions from the presidential office, Na remains in the top spot in opinion polls among supporters of the PPP for the position of new party leader.

According to a survey conducted by Hangil Research between Jan. 7 and 9, Na won 30.7 percent of the votes among PPP supporters, surpassing Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon (18.8 percent), who is said to have the support of Yoon's confidants, and Ahn Cheol-soo (13.9 percent), the former presidential candidate who had dropped out of the race to rally behind Yoon.

Instead of accepting Na's resignation, the president dismissed her from the position of vice chairperson of the low birthrate committee and ambassador for Climate and Environment Friday afternoon and immediately named replacements for both posts, a day before he embarks on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland.

Senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye said Yoon dismissed Na from her two posts and appointed Kim Young-mi, a member of the committee, as her replacement as vice chair, and Cho Hong-sik, a law professor at Seoul National University, to replace her as the climate ambassador.

"The two nominees will be subject to review at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Han Duck-soo, next week and once approved, President Yoon will officially appoint them through an electronic approval system during his trip," Kim added.

Senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye leaves the stage after briefing reporters on the dismissal of Na Kyung-won from the posts of vice chairperson of the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy and ambassador for Climate and Environment, at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

While not bending her will to run for party chairperson, Na also took care not to fall out of favor with the president before the dismissal.

In a Facebook post on Friday morning, Na wrote, "I don't think that you genuinely wish for the success of President Yoon Suk Yeol and his government." She did not specify who she was referring to with "you," but her remarks are interpreted to mean that she is targeting the lawmakers who are close to the president. She has been under pressure from them not to run in the leadership contest.

Later the day, Na was seen visiting Guinsa Temple in Danyang, North Chungcheong Province, where the president and first lady Kim Keon Hee visited as a presidential candidate and president-elect.

Experts expect that as long as her support rating remains high, Na will persist in her bid. If polls continue to show strong support among party members, she is likely to officially announce her candidacy for the leadership position. But if her dismissal by Yoon results in a decline in her approval rating, it would be detrimental to her prospects in the race.

"If the former legislator does not participate in the national convention, it will be seen as her caving in to the requests of President Yoon's confidants. So it is likely that she will proceed with her bid for the party leadership," political commentator Park Sang-byung said.