Conditions for the Next Party Leader Cited by Jung Jin-seok Following Joo Ho-young... 'Resonating with the MZ Generation'

Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Geum Bo-ryeong] As prospects emerge that the party convention to decide the next ruling party leader could be held as early as February next year, the two top figures leading the ruling party?Floor Leader Joo Ho-young and Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok?have drawn attention by pinpointing "empathy from the MZ generation" as a key condition for the next party leader. Within the opposition, there is speculation that this may be aimed at Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, who is gaining prominence in polls for the next party leader.

On the 5th, following the Emergency Response Committee meeting, Jeong Jin-seok, chairman of the People Power Party’s Emergency Committee, told reporters, "We are striving to become a leadership that resonates with the MZ generation and young people who discern right from wrong based on the values of common sense, fairness, and justice." He added, "I hope the next leadership will also be one that empathizes with this new wave of the MZ generation and future generations."

He further stated, "The Emergency Committee members have agreed to begin discussions on holding the party convention after the budget bill is finalized, and today (the 5th), there was no discussion regarding the party convention issue."

Jeong’s remarks align with the conditions for the next party leader recently mentioned by Floor Leader Joo. On the 3rd, at a forum with Daegu-Gyeongbuk journalists held at Daegu Suseong University, Joo listed the following conditions: a leader popular among the MZ generation, a leader who can manage nominations stably without being swayed, and a leader capable of countering opposition in the metropolitan area.

Currently, more than ten senior members are being mentioned as potential candidates for the People Power Party’s next leadership, but among them, the figure receiving the most support from the MZ generation is former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, considered part of the "non-Yoon" faction. Floor Leader Joo also expressed concern after naming former party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn and lawmakers Kim Ki-hyun, Yoon Sang-hyun, and Cho Kyung-tae as contenders, saying, "I do not see anyone who has the confidence to win the general election."

Given the lack of clear candidates within the party who can attract the attention of the MZ generation, some in the opposition have analyzed that these remarks might be referring to Minister Han. Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won mentioned on KBS Radio’s "Choi Kyung-young’s Strong Current Affairs" that "Minister Han might be in Yoon’s mind." Hyun Geun-taek, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute of the Democratic Party, also appeared on CBS Radio’s "Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show" and analyzed that Floor Leader Joo’s comments were referring to Minister Han.

However, Floor Leader Joo told reporters on the same day, "I do not think my remarks were made with any specific person in mind," adding, "I was not referring to a particular individual but speaking in general terms." He explained the reasons by saying, "The conditions for winning the general election are someone who can lead electoral victories in the metropolitan area, where we hold more than half of the National Assembly seats; someone who can gain support from the MZ generation, which is also our future; and someone who can manage nominations rationally and stably in line with public sentiment."