The ruling Grand National Party’s emergency leadership council braced for next year’s electoral battles by organizing its detailed tasks and appointing new key officials.

In its meeting on Friday, the council appointed Rep. Kwon Young-se as its new secretary-general and allocated party lawmakers and non-party experts to four sectors ― political reform, policy design, public communication and recruiting.

The third-term lawmaker is largely considered a non-faction figure and his selection is seen as another move of the party to speed up renewal and gain back the public’s support.

Rep. Kwon is to take charge of the candidate nomination for the general election slated for next April and to support the decision-making body in major in-party affairs. First-term lawmakers Reps. Kim Young-woo and Kim Gwang-lim were respectively appointed to vice secretary-general and head of the Yeouido Institute, the party’s policy think tank.

Before the meeting, council chairwoman Rep. Park Geun-hye once again urged members to refrain from unnecessary slander and conflict.

“Renewal may only take place when all of us work as one,” she said. “The council should speak in one voice in order to lead the party amid the current crisis.”

Her remarks came in response to the earlier words from council member Lee Sang-don, who claimed that the current powers of administration should step back in order for the right-wing group to move forward, referring to specific names.

Lee’s words sparked backlash from several senior members of the party. Kim Chong-in, former presidential secretary and leading member of the council, nevertheless claimed that a certain level of opposition should have been expected and urged Rep. Park to remain unshaken.

While the council bustled to pull itself together, former chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo demanded that Kim and Lee resign from their posts.

“Lee’s policy line is quite unclear and Kim faced bribery charges in the past,” Hong said.

“If the party is to achieve renewal, it should rid itself of such inappropriate figures.”

The ex-chairman also blamed the interim chief for composing the council unilaterally, without consulting in-party opinions.

The ruling party has faced a political downturn this year, especially after a series of election defeats, including the Seoul mayoral by-election.

Amid public backlash, Rep. Hong and the Supreme Council resigned en masse, giving way to the party’s presidential hopeful Rep. Park Geun-hye and the newly-formed emergency council, including non-party members, ranging from former presidential officials to young businessmen.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)