People Power Party Protests Special Prosecutor’s Search of Headquarters
Party Launches Sit-in, Boycotts National Appointment Ceremony
Internal Turmoil Forces Change of Party Convention Venue
The People Power Party has launched an on-site sit-in protest in response to the special prosecutor Kim Gunhee's search and seizure of the party headquarters. The party has labeled this attempt as "political oppression," and is escalating its confrontation with the administration, including by boycotting the National Appointment Ceremony on August 15, which marks the inauguration of President Lee Jaemyung.
On August 14, Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, convened an emergency committee meeting at the central party office in Yeouido and stated, "The special prosecutor's attempt to obtain the party membership list is not an investigation but an act of violence," adding, "If there is an intention to annihilate the opposition, we will fight to the end." The party leadership guarded the headquarters throughout the night starting from the evening of the 13th. As there is still time left on the warrant, the party plans to continue the sit-in until the special prosecutor abandons the search and seizure.
Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader, along with members of the People Power Party, are holding a picket protest urging the special prosecutor to halt the search and seizure during the members' meeting held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul on August 14, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
On the morning of the 13th, the special prosecutor sent investigators to the People Power Party's central headquarters and demanded the submission of the entire party membership list, which includes about five million members. The purpose was to compare the party membership list with the list of Unification Church members in order to investigate allegations of lobbying involving the Unification Church and Geonjin Bopsa. However, as the party refused to submit the materials, the investigators withdrew around 1 a.m. that day.
After the emergency committee meeting, the leadership immediately held an emergency general assembly of lawmakers at the headquarters. Regarding the decision to boycott the National Appointment Ceremony on the 15th, Song stated, "It is deplorable that President Lee is holding a self-congratulatory inauguration. I will not attend."
The unsettled situation both inside and outside the party is becoming a burden on the success of the party convention. On August 14, the People Power Party decided to hold the final joint speech session for party leader and Supreme Council candidates online at the central headquarters, instead of in person at KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, as originally planned. Although the official reason cited was heavy rain, the decision also took into account the difficulty of leaving the headquarters unattended. Song explained at the general assembly, "This was an urgent measure to defend the headquarters."
Candidate Kim Munsu, who is running for the leadership election of the People Power Party, is staging a sit-in protest on August 14, 2025, in the lobby of the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, to oppose the special prosecutor Kim Gunhee's search and seizure of the party headquarters. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
The party leadership race, already divided between pro-impeachment and anti-impeachment camps, saw further confrontation over the special prosecutor's search and seizure attempt. Some argued, "It is time to clearly sever ties with former President Yoon Sukyeol," while others claimed, "Those who supported the special prosecutor are accomplices in the destruction of the conservative camp." Kim Munsu, a candidate for party leader and former Minister of Employment and Labor, began an indefinite sit-in protest in opposition to the special prosecutor's search and seizure. The fact that the party's Central Ethics Committee is set to decide on disciplinary action against Jeon Hangil, a former Korean history lecturer, as well as lawmakers Kwon Youngse and Lee Yangsoo, is also fueling internal conflict. One senior People Power Party lawmaker expressed concern, saying, "Regardless of the convention's appeal, the voter turnout is likely to be low."
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