People Power Party Floor Leader Election Race Kicks Off... A Four-Way Contest Emerges

On the 16th, the People Power Party's members' meeting held at the National Assembly. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] The race for the next floor leader of the People Power Party is solidifying into a 'four-way contest.'

On the 18th, four-term lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun and three-term lawmaker Kim Tae-heum officially declared their candidacies. Lawmakers Kwon Seong-dong and Yoo Ui-dong are also expected to announce their bids soon.

With less than a year remaining until the presidential election, they each claim to be the right person to lead the party's floor strategy.

Kim Tae-heum, who was the first to officially announce his candidacy, emphasized 'fighting power.' On the day, he said, "In the situation we face now, we need a floor leader without personal interests who possesses strong fighting power and a strategic mindset. Despite the public's stern warning, the Democratic Party is reorganizing itself as the 'Road to Chinmun Party,' signaling parliamentary dictatorship and legislative rampage. Fierce struggle against arrogant and dogmatic parliamentary dictatorship is an unavoidable reality."

Kim Ki-hyun placed emphasis on 'unified politics.' He explained, "I will become a 'unified leader of change and innovation' who makes the People Power Party the central axis of the opposition coalition through strategic struggle and unity. Through communication and empathy, I will demonstrate dynamic unified leadership based on 'addition and inclusion politics,' not 'subtraction and exclusion politics.'"

In the case of lawmaker Kwon, he is expected to emphasize charismatic leadership capable of standing up to the ruling party's hardline floor leader, while lawmaker Yoo will highlight his 'value of centrist pragmatism.'

Following the early resignation of Joo Ho-young, the current floor leader of the People Power Party and acting party leader, on the 16th, the floor leader election is expected to be held as early as the 26th or as late as the 28th.

Variables include the opinions of first-term lawmakers who hold the majority in the floor, the abolition of the floor leader and policy committee chair running mate system, and the next party leadership competition structure.

The next floor leader of the People Power Party will temporarily serve as acting party leader to fill the vacancy left by former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in.