People Power Party Finalizes Intra-Party Primary and Moves Toward Unification Talks

Kim Jong-in "I am only interested in making the People Power Party candidate"
Unification talks likely to gain momentum only after candidate decision on March 4

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] As the nomination process for the Seoul mayoral candidate begins, the People Power Party (PPP) maintains the position that it should first select its own candidate and then start discussions on unification with Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People Party. PPP candidates have also expressed that they will 'follow the party's policy' once the primary process begins.

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

According to key PPP officials on the 25th, it has become a foregone conclusion that the opposition unification for the Seoul mayoral race will take place after the party's primary. Kim Jong-in, the PPP Emergency Response Committee chairman, said in a meeting with reporters after the emergency committee meeting that day, "As I have repeatedly said, I am responsible for producing the PPP candidate and have no interest beyond that."

According to the candidate selection schedule announced by the PPP Nomination Management Committee, preliminary candidates will be selected by the 26th, and four final primary candidates will be confirmed on March 5. The final candidate will be decided on March 4, reflecting public opinion polls and other factors. Considering Chairman Kim's remarks, the unification timing is only possible around this period. Kim also mentioned in interviews with SBS and others that "It is not too late to unify after producing the PPP candidate."

Until now, the PPP has demanded that Ahn Cheol-soo resign from the People Party, join the PPP, and participate in the primary. Ahn rejected this and urged the PPP to open the primary platform. He requested to be allowed to participate in the primary even without PPP party membership. The PPP leadership has already expressed a negative stance on this proposal. Although there were voices within the party calling for early unification discussions, with the primary process already underway, Ahn's proposal to open the primary platform has been effectively rejected.

PPP candidates such as Na Kyung-won and Oh Se-hoon have also stated that they will follow the party's policy regarding unification discussions, so there is little room for discord within the party over the unification method at least internally.