Overcoming the 'Lee Jun-seok Risk,' Jeong Jin-seok Likely to Officially Start Party Convention Schedule
Na Kyung-won Appointed Vice Chairman but Keeps Candidacy Option Open
Yoo Seung-min: Will He Recreate the 'Lee Jun-seok Storm'?
Intense Intra-Party Rivalry Among Kim Ki-hyun, Ahn Cheol-soo, Joo Ho-young, and Others
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] The competition among candidates for the next leader of the People Power Party is expected to intensify further. Jeong Jin-seok, the emergency committee chairman who has shaken off the 'Lee Jun-seok risk,' has decided to travel nationwide to hold on-site emergency committee meetings in preparation for the party convention. Once the timing and rules of the convention become more concrete, the candidate pool may be narrowed down, but the next party leader will hold the nomination rights, making the competition fiercer than ever.
According to political circles on the 15th, the leading candidates for the next party leader within the National Assembly include lawmakers Kim Ki-hyun, Ahn Cheol-soo, Yoon Sang-hyun, Cho Kyung-tae, Joo Ho-young, and Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se. Outside the Assembly, former lawmakers Yoo Seung-min and Na Kyung-won are mentioned.
Outside candidates are more popular than those inside the Assembly. Both former lawmakers Yoo and Na have recently received high approval ratings in various opinion polls.
Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won was appointed the vice-chairperson of the ministerial-level Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee the day before. This has led to interpretations that she is effectively stepping away from the party leadership race, but since the vice-chair position is part-time, her candidacy remains open. In a phone interview, Vice-Chair Na said, "I have not yet discussed the party convention. I don't think it is appropriate to link the convention with my appointment as vice-chair," and remained reserved.
Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min has also not directly mentioned his candidacy yet. However, he is leading in suitability polls for party leader, drawing attention to whether he will run.
Some predict a 'Yoo Seung-min surge' similar to when former leader Lee Jun-seok was elected. Cheon Ha-ram, a member of the People Power Party Innovation Committee, said in a BBS radio interview, "Support for former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min is increasing even in the TK region," adding, "More people are judging that it would be better for the party to be led by a reformist conservative like Yoo Seung-min or a competent conservative." He continued, "It seems like the initial on-site atmosphere that appeared when Lee became party leader is reemerging," explaining, "Back then, the conservative support base's affection for Lee Jun-seok or the idea that it had to be Lee was not strong. The strategic judgment was that electing Lee as party leader would be advantageous for the next election."
Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, is attending the "Media, Reform for the Future" Grand Debate held at the National Assembly on the 21st, greeting other participants. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
Most candidates within the Assembly have already confirmed their intention to run for party leader.
Lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo announced his candidacy and on the 11th said, "I hope both Yoo Seung-min and Na Kyung-won will run (in the party convention)," emphasizing his centrist appeal. Lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun targeted Ahn's message by saying, "I also expect Ahn, who shares the ultimate goal of winning the general election, to declare he will not run for president," applying pressure.
Joo Ho-young, who serves as floor leader, is also mentioned as a candidate for party leader. Earlier, Joo stated that he would serve only until the end of former floor leader Kwon Seong-dong's term, which has led to speculation that he is considering running for the next party leader.
Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se, a recently rising figure, has served as the party's external cooperation chairman and facilitated President Yoon Seok-yeol's entry into the People Power Party.
The timing of the party convention and the reflection of party member ratios will determine the outcome
Going forward, the timing and rules of the party convention decided by the emergency committee are expected to influence candidates' decisions to run.
The later the convention is held, the more justification Floor Leader Joo will have to complete former floor leader Kwon's remaining term before challenging for party leader. Minister Kwon and Vice-Chair Na can also look for opportunities to run while serving their terms.
Regarding the rules, Article 26, Paragraph 2 of the People Power Party's constitution stipulates that the party leader's election reflects 70% of valid votes from the electorate (party members) and 30% from general public opinion polls (national public opinion). In the last party convention, Vice-Chair Na, who ranked first in the party member vote, was significantly behind former leader Lee Jun-seok in the general public opinion poll and ultimately lost.
Recently, there have been internal calls within the People Power Party to include provisions to prevent reverse voting and to increase the party member ratio from 70% to 80%. While these provisions would be disadvantageous to popular figures like Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoo Seung-min, they are expected to favor candidates like Kim Ki-hyun and Minister Kwon Young-se, who are likely to gain party base support.
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