People Power Party's 'Samwonsek', Internal Opposition as a Variable... "One More Round of Opinion Gathering"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The People Power Party is pushing forward with a party color change project using the three primary colors (red, blue, and yellow), but internal opposition within the party has emerged as a variable.

The People Power Party Emergency Response Committee gathered additional opinions on the party color change during a meeting on the morning of the 17th. A committee official said, "Public Relations Director Kim Sumin will prepare the final proposal, report it to the lawmakers, and then go through a process of gathering final opinions." The idea is to fully disclose how the colors will be used. Accordingly, the People Power Party plans to conduct another round of opinion gathering from lawmakers through an online caucus meeting.

Kim, the Public Relations Director who has overseen the entire process including the party name, previously announced a draft using red, blue, and yellow together as the new party colors. These three primary colors represent the party colors of the People Power Party’s predecessors: the Liberty Korea Party (red), the Democratic Party of Korea (blue), and the Justice Party (yellow). It was explained that these colors encompass all ideologies from progressive to conservative and embody the post-ideological spirit pursued by the Kim Jong-in Emergency Response Committee. Upon receiving this report, Chairman Kim also responded positively, saying, "It seems to be proceeding in a direction that incorporates diverse values without being trapped in a specific ideology."

However, the reactions from party lawmakers were different. There were many complaints questioning why the familiar pink color should be changed, and opinions favoring the retention of the current pink color considering replacement costs for constituency office interiors and jumpers. Lawmaker Park Dae-chul publicly opposed the new party colors on his Facebook, likening them to a "mixed stew," and stated, "A political party’s identity is fundamental. Where in the world is there a party that simultaneously advocates conservatism, progressivism, and centrism?"

In fact, a color preference survey conducted among 250 party lawmakers and district committee chairpersons showed that red tones such as pink and red received overwhelming support of about 66%, while the option mixing two to three colors received the fewest votes.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this opposition, analyses inside and outside the party suggest that dissatisfaction accumulated from the party platform and party name revision processes has surfaced during the party color change process. Although there was no public opposition, it is true that there are many concerns among lawmakers about Chairman Kim’s innovation direction, which involves removing the strong conservative color, and the decision-making structure centered on the Emergency Response Committee.

The party leadership finds itself in a difficult situation. Following internal opposition that led to the removal of the 'four-term limit for lawmakers' from key party policies, overturning the existing party color plan would inevitably damage future innovation efforts. However, ignoring lawmakers’ opinions and pushing forward is also burdensome. The party color change project has unexpectedly become a test of leadership.

At the Emergency Response Committee meeting that day, there was no disagreement about respecting expert opinions and maintaining the existing plan. However, concerns about lawmakers’ opposition were also raised. A committee official said, "Floor Leader Joo Ho-young expressed the opinion that it is necessary to sufficiently gather and explain lawmakers’ opinions."