"Regime Change Must Be Achieved"‥ People Power Party Gangwon MPs, 'Support Yoon Seok-yeol'

Former Lawmaker Kim Young-hwan, "I hope Lee Jun-seok abandons childish thoughts and thinks bigger..."

People Power Party Gangwon District Members of the National Assembly (from left in the photo: Yoo Sang-beom, Kwon Seong-dong, Lee Yang-su, Lee Cheol-gyu) [Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Amid clashes between People Power Party (PPP) leader Lee Jun-seok and the 'pro-Yoon Seok-yeol faction' lawmakers over support for former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, PPP lawmakers from the Gangwon region are stepping forward to back Yoon.

In particular, as Leader Lee Jun-seok maintained his stance, saying "I will proceed without wavering" despite suggestions from senior party members, criticism against him is intensifying among Yoon’s supporters outside the party.

Gwon Seong-dong (Gangneung), known as a 'childhood friend' of former Prosecutor General Yoon, recently expressed concern, saying, "Looking at the party leader's recent remarks, I am worried," and added, "It is the political commentators or ruling party figures who should say that Yoon’s approval rating is in danger," sharply criticizing the remarks.

He further stated, "I ask the party leader to refrain from emotional responses and to seriously embrace the people's desire for regime change with a cooler head."

Lee Yang-su (Sokcho, Inje, Goseong, Yangyang) publicly expressed support via SNS, saying, "I am well aware that there are many excellent presidential candidates within the party, but properly rallying behind Yoon Seok-yeol as a preliminary candidate and moving forward together will significantly enhance the opposition's competitiveness in the presidential race," and added, "I will cheer for Yoon Seok-yeol until the People Power Party becomes the platform for regime change and achieves it."

Yoo Sang-beom (Hongcheon, Hoengseong, Yeongwol, Pyeongchang) attended the official announcement of Yoon’s political participation on the 29th of last month alongside Gwon Seong-dong, lending support to Yoon’s presidential bid. Although Lee Cheol-gyu (Donghae, Taebaek, Samcheok, Jeongseon) has not publicly declared support, he is known as a 'pro-Yoon faction' lawmaker, maintaining communication with Yoon’s camp.

Thus, three out of four incumbent PPP lawmakers in the Gangwon region have already sided with Yoon, and it is reported that the remaining lawmaker will also join the support group, signaling that the opposition’s campaign for Yoon’s presidential bid in Gangwon Province is set to intensify.

Currently, the 'pro-Yoon faction' within the PPP is said to number around 20 lawmakers, including Jeong Jin-seok, who has advocated the 'Yoon Seok-yeol Chungcheong Great Ambition Theory.' Some of these lawmakers are also pushing to circulate a petition among colleagues to support Yoon Seok-yeol.

Previously, Leader Lee Jun-seok sparked strong backlash from 'pro-Yoon faction' lawmakers within the party by making critical remarks such as calling Yoon "the carrot in bibimbap" and stating that "Yoon’s approval rating is in danger."

In response, Yoon’s supporters outside the party accused Lee of disparaging Yoon, saying, "Leader Lee’s belittling of Yoon reveals his own leadership limitations," joining the chorus of criticism against Lee.

Additionally, Kim Young-hwan, a four-term lawmaker and former minister who recently positioned himself as a political advisor to Yoon, criticized Leader Lee in the media, saying, "Checks on the regime are currently very insufficient and lacking," and added, "I hope he abandons childish thinking, thinks bigger, and reorganizes the opposition’s strategy."