‘Yunhaekgwan’ Kwon Seong-dong Elected as New Floor Leader... People Power Party Launches ‘Pro-Yoon’ System

Elected with an Overwhelming 81 out of 102 Votes
Yoon Seok-yeol Gains Support Despite No Yeouido Experience
Senior People Power Party Member Calls It an "Expected Result"

On the 8th, at the National Assembly, Kwon Seong-dong, who was elected as the new floor leader at the People Power Party's general meeting of lawmakers, is delivering his acceptance speech. / Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] With Representative Kwon Seong-dong, the eldest figure among the ‘Yunhaekgwan (core associates of Yoon Seok-yeol)’, being elected as the new floor leader of the People Power Party, the party is expected to be reorganized into a ‘pro-Yoon system’. On the 8th, 81 out of 102 People Power Party lawmakers chose Kwon as the new floor leader in the floor leader election, strengthening the shift to a pro-Yoon system. For President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, who has no political experience in Yeouido, this means gaining a reliable support force.

A senior lawmaker of the People Power Party said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the day of Kwon’s election, "It was an expected result," adding, "The party atmosphere had already tilted to one side since Representative Kim Tae-heum shifted his direction to run for governor of Chungnam."

Kwon is classified as a so-called ‘Yunhaekgwan (core associate of Yoon Seok-yeol)’. This is due to his decisive role in Yoon’s election victory. During Yoon’s candidacy period, he served as the head of the Comprehensive Support Headquarters of the presidential campaign, and after the election committee was formed, he served as secretary-general and head of the Comprehensive Support Headquarters, working closely with Yoon. After declaring his candidacy for floor leader, Kwon also emphasized his deep trust with the president-elect and appealed for support. He aims to break away from the traditional vertical party-government relationship and lead cooperation between the party and the Blue House, becoming a ‘floor leader who speaks frankly to the president’.

However, the ‘Yunhaekgwan’ label also carries negative connotations. There are concerns that Kwon might act more as a channel for Yoon’s intervention within the party rather than as a bridge between Yoon and the party. This is a challenge Kwon must overcome. Seemingly aware of such perceptions, before his election, Kwon stated, “I am standing on my own apart from the Yunhaekgwan,” and “I don’t like the term Yunhaekgwan. I prefer to be called a four-term senior lawmaker.”

The Yoon camp also congratulated Kwon on his election but expressed their intention not to interfere with party affairs. On the morning of the day, spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin said at a regular briefing regarding the ‘Yunhaekgwan floor leader’ system, “President-elect Yoon said (right after winning) that ‘I don’t have the capacity to worry about party affairs.’” She added, “The transition team is doing its best to prepare for the new government, and once the new floor leader is elected, there will likely be a congratulatory and advisory message from the president-elect because the new floor leader will play a close role in cooperating with the opposition.”

When declaring his candidacy, Kwon stated about the future relationship between the party and the president, “I will maintain cooperation and a healthy tension to ensure the party stands at the center of national governance. For that, a trust relationship with the president is essential,” pledging to serve as a smooth communication channel. First and foremost, Kwon is expected to focus on faithfully implementing President-elect Yoon’s campaign pledges and assisting in national governance.

Above all, the biggest challenge will be negotiations with the ruling Democratic Party, which is the major opposition party. After the government’s launch, various bills supporting national agendas will pour in, and as the ruling party’s floor leader, Kwon will have to negotiate with the opposition. How well he achieves cooperation and pushes through negotiations with the Democratic Party will be the biggest test for Kwon. Additionally, whether he can reconcile with Party Leader Lee Jun-seok ahead of the local elections just a month and a half away will also be a point to watch.