Ruling Party Also Changes Leadership... Consolidating Pro-Moon Faction vs Erasing Factional Colors

Minju, New Floor Leader Elected Today
Impact on Party Leader Election Depending on Results

Democratic Party floor leader candidates Representative Yoon Ho-jung and Representative Park Wan-joo are attending the party members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th to elect the floor leader, and are seen talking together. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] After the defeat in the April 7 by-elections, the party, government, and Blue House all embarked on personnel reshuffling, but the approaches have taken somewhat different forms. This seems to be because each side has a different perception of the situation regarding how to interpret the election results and approach public sentiment. First, President Moon Jae-in appears to be organizing his team by excluding so-called ‘pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in)’ figures in the Blue House staff reshuffle. On the other hand, the Democratic Party of Korea is likely to contest next year’s presidential election with the pro-Moon mainstream influence remaining strong.

On the morning of the 16th, the Democratic Party held a general meeting of lawmakers in the main conference room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building and elected Representative Yoon Ho-jung, classified as pro-Moon, as the new floor leader. The outcome of this floor leader election is expected to significantly influence the party leader election scheduled for next month. The party leader election is a three-way contest among Representative Hong Young-pyo, who leads the core pro-Moon ‘Owl Group,’ Representative Song Young-gil, also classified as pro-Moon, and Representative Woo Won-shik, who has a less factional color. If the pro-Moon faction wins the floor leader position, there is a possibility that a non-mainstream candidate might be chosen as party leader, but the likelihood of both the party leader and floor leader being replaced by non-mainstream figures is low in any scenario.

Within the Democratic Party, voices of self-reflection have emerged, calling for moving away from faction-centered party management following the by-election defeat. However, given the need to be mindful of the strong supporter base, the pro-Moon influence remains significant in this election as well. The Democratic Party also decided to elect new Supreme Council members through a party convention system where party members’ votes have a large impact. This makes it difficult to reflect demands for appointing less factionally aligned figures and pursuing personnel reform.

In the cabinet reshuffle and Blue House staff replacement scheduled for the afternoon, President Moon shows a will to reduce specific factional colors and manage state affairs stably. In this context, the new Democratic Party leadership, mainly composed of pro-Moon members, is expected to take the initiative in party-Blue House relations and begin preparations for the presidential election. This could also mark a starting point connected to the acceleration of the lame-duck period.