Yoon and Hong fought like enemies... Does Lee Jun-seok have a 'One Team' secret plan in his pocket?

No Issues in Words About One Team... Mutual Accusations and Lawsuits Make Aftereffects Inevitable
Lee Jun-seok Emphasizes One Team Amid Division Concerns... Attention on Campaign Committee Formation and Kim Jong-i's Appearance

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol (right) and Assemblyman Hong Joon-pyo of the People Power Party are posing before the "1-on-1 Debate" held on the evening of the 15th of last month at the MBC building in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong and Park Juni] As the People Power Party approaches the final candidate selection for the 20th presidential election, attention is focused on whether the party can overcome internal conflicts and form a 'One Team.' Although the leading candidates, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and Representative Hong Joon-pyo, have publicly stated their intention to become a 'One Team,' tensions have escalated sharply amid the so-called 'Yoon-Hong showdown.' The party leadership also faces significant immediate challenges, such as forming the election campaign committee.

On the morning of the 5th, Representative Hong stated on Facebook, "Regardless of the outcome, I will accept the result," adding, "If I become the (final) candidate, I will tighten my shoelaces again and embark on the long journey of regime change; if the opposite result comes out, I will consider it the will of heaven and be satisfied with playing a successful role in the primary election's excitement, and my role for the party ends there." Hong initially included the phrase "I will serve quietly" but later deleted it. Yeomyeong, spokesperson for Hong’s campaign, explained, "Saying we will be one team is a natural statement we have always made and remains unchanged," adding, "It means that his role as the leading candidate is over."

Former Prosecutor General Yoon also agrees externally on the need to form a one team. On the same day, Lee Sang-il, public relations director of Yoon’s campaign, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and responded to the question, "If Representative Hong becomes the (final) candidate, will Yoon’s campaign wholeheartedly support him?" by saying, "Yoon himself has said several times in person that he will naturally accept the result and help for regime change." Lee added, "I think forming a one team is no problem," and said, "If Yoon becomes the final candidate, he can chemically unite with Representative Hong, former Representative Yoo Seung-min, and former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong to lay the foundation for victory next year."

The problem lies in the already deep emotional rift between the candidates. Both sides have engaged in fierce battles, exchanging attacks that crossed the line. Hong’s camp accused Yoon’s camp of coercing signatures on support petitions and inducing proxy voting, raising allegations of 'illegal election campaigning by the Yoon Seok-yeol camp.' In response, Yoon’s camp filed complaints with the police against Ye, the spokesperson. When a professor from Dankook University College of Medicine, who supports Yoon, posted a YouTube video titled 'Criticizing Hong Eo-jun-pyo for Yoon Seok-yeol,' Ye responded by calling it a 'reckless remark,' escalating the controversy.

The party leadership, seemingly aware of the risk of division, has repeatedly emphasized the need for a one team. At the previous day’s Supreme Council meeting, Representative Lee Jun-seok said, "We should take the Democratic Party, whose cohesion is weakening rather than forming a chemical bond, as a lesson and unite our party," adding, "If we unite, we can achieve regime change, but if we scatter, we will be defeated one by one." Floor leader Kim Ki-hyun also told reporters after the floor strategy meeting that day, "Whoever is finally selected as the candidate, I believe that the other candidates will share the same determination to win next year’s presidential election and the unified will of the people for regime change."

For the People Power Party to truly become a one team, how the campaign committee will be formed going forward is also crucial. The inclusion of certain figures in the campaign committee can influence execution and strategy in the general election. Typically, the campaign that operated until the primary is disbanded, and the committee is formed with members chosen by the candidate and the party, but this also requires coordination between the selected candidate and the party.

However, if former Prosecutor General Yoon is selected as the candidate, it seems difficult to easily coordinate with the party due to the large scale of his campaign organization. Yoon’s campaign includes about 140 members, including current and former lawmakers. It is known that various plans are being discussed both within the party and the campaign. These include either merging the existing campaign with the party or completely disbanding the campaign and forming a new one led by the party. Regarding this, Ha Tae-kyung, co-chief of Yoon’s campaign, said the previous day, "Once officially nominated, the campaign should be reorganized around former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in or Representative Lee," adding, "The campaign should be formed in a way that effectively grants full authority." On the other hand, if Representative Hong becomes the candidate, it is predicted that coordination with the party will be easier due to the relatively smaller size of his campaign and its focus on operational staff.

Whether former Chairman Kim Jong-in will participate is also a key factor in forming the campaign committee. Earlier, after meeting with Representative Lee on the 24th of last month, Kim stated he would "judge after seeing the candidate." However, having shown indirect and direct support for Yoon, it is highly likely that Kim will take a leading role if Yoon becomes the final candidate. Conversely, if Representative Hong, who does not have a good relationship with Kim, becomes the final candidate, Kim’s participation becomes uncertain. Regarding the campaign committee formation, a representative from Lee’s side said, "Once the candidate is selected, there will be a process of coordinating opinions between the parties," adding, "We plan to have the first round of discussions this weekend."