Resembling but Different: People Power Party's Campaign Committee Reshuffle... "Lee's Democratic Party vs Kim's Campaign Committee"

Similarities in Causing 'Chaos for Reconstruction'
Democratic Party's Reform Starting from the Bottom
People Power Party's Reform Initiated by Top-Level Decision
Who Is the Main Actor in the Reform Process?

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The situation of the People Power Party, which has embarked on a full-scale overhaul of its election campaign committee, bears similarities to what happened in the Democratic Party's campaign committee about 40 days ago. Both parties, having undergone or undergoing a process of 'chaos for reconstruction,' share the same direction of slimming down their 'mammoth campaign committees.' However, given the markedly different progress, it remains uncertain whether the People Power Party's campaign committee reorganization will lead to a successful turnaround card like the Democratic Party's.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is leaving the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the evening of the 3rd after discussing follow-up measures for the complete reorganization plan of the campaign committee.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Coup from above, revolution from below = Regarding the campaign committee reorganization that began on the 3rd with Kim Jong-in, the People Power Party's overall campaign committee chairman, the term 'coup' surfaced inside and outside the party. Chairman Kim publicly announced the plan for a full-scale reorganization of the campaign committee without prior consultation with presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol. The sudden announcement of the reorganization discussion, without coordination with the candidate, caused confusion to escalate. Eventually, in a rushed manner, four co-chairs including Kim Byung-joon, standing campaign committee chairman, and Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader, as well as Lim Tae-hee, overall situation headquarters chief, and Kim Han-gil, New Era Preparation Committee chairman, submitted their resignations in succession. Affiliated lawmakers also declared their willingness to give up party positions and pledged to serve quietly. This was how the reorganization discussion triggered by Chairman Kim rapidly spread throughout the campaign committee.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, held a New Year's press conference on the 4th at the Kia Motors factory in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, under the theme "Vision for Korea's Great Transformation and National Leap Forward." Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

In contrast, the Democratic Party's campaign committee reorganization proceeded in the form of an uprising from below. On November 18 last year, Lee Tan-hee, a first-term Democratic Party lawmaker, declared his resignation as chairman of the 'Neomokdeulwi (Committee to Hear Your Voice),' a public communication enhancement body under the campaign committee, stating, "Personnel with field experience and expertise should be fully deployed in the campaign committee, and the remaining lawmakers should go to their regions and meet citizens directly." Subsequently, lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan announced his resignation as co-chair of the campaign committee, initiating discussions on reorganization.

◆ Is the presidential candidate the protagonist of the reorganization or not? = In the Democratic Party's case, the campaign committee reorganization ultimately led to granting full authority to presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. On November 21 last year, at the Democratic Party's general meeting, all 169 affiliated lawmakers resolved, "We delegate all authority for party reform and campaign committee innovation to candidate Lee and agree to abide by his decisions." However, in the People Power Party's case, whether desired or not, Chairman Kim ended up holding the key to the reorganization. At the general meeting, Chairman Kim introduced remarks directed at candidate Yoon, saying, "I will act as your chief of staff until the election, so please just delay as we ask." Although explanations followed that this was a figurative expression, observing the series of events, it can only be interpreted that Chairman Kim intends to firmly hold the initiative until the presidential election.

Kim Jong-in, the overall election campaign committee chairman of the People Power Party, is answering reporters' questions as he leaves the party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 3rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As a result, candidate Lee, through a series of reform efforts, strengthened his control over the Democratic Party, completing the 'Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party' and laying the groundwork to accelerate the election campaign. However, the People Power Party faces a situation where, despite candidate Yoon being the final decision-maker, it must choose whether to accept the 'Kim Jong-in campaign committee' or not. Additionally, while the Democratic Party's campaign committee reorganization occurred more than 100 days before the presidential election, the People Power Party is facing significant turmoil just over two months before the election. Considering that the Lunar New Year holiday will be a major turning point in this year's presidential election, the opportunity for a turnaround itself has relatively diminished.