[Reporter’s Notebook] Written as Gukmin Gonggam, Read as "Yoonshim Gonggam"

Pro-Yoon Study Group 'Gukmin Gonggam' Launched
71 Out of 115 People Power Party Lawmakers Attend
Many Leave Once the Lecture Begins

Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, and Lee Cheol-gyu attended the study group "National Sympathy" held at the National Assembly on the 7th, greeting the participants. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Among the 115 members of the People Power Party, 71 gathered. This was at the first event of ‘Gukmin Gonggam’ (People’s Sympathy), a meeting called a ‘pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol faction)’ gathering rather than a general assembly of lawmakers. Gukmin Gonggam is presented as a study group created to strengthen the policy capabilities of the People Power Party and to legislatively and politically support the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

Looking at the reality, suspicion inevitably arises that it is a ‘pro-Yoon faction’ faction meeting. The leadership is composed around Lee Cheol-gyu, the general secretary, along with Kim Jeong-jae (secretary general), Yoo Sang-beom (public relations), and Park Soo-young (planning). All are classified as ‘Yunhaekgwan’ (core associates of Yoon Seok-yeol). At the first meeting on the 7th, Kwon Seong-dong and Jang Je-won, considered the ‘original Yunhaekgwan,’ also attended to lend support and flaunt their strength.

Because of this, concerns about ‘factional politics’ have emerged in some quarters. While it is understandable for the ruling party to understand and assist the president’s state philosophy, if it degenerates into a ‘primary-subcontractor’ relationship, it is difficult to avoid criticism of being a double agent for the regime. A ruling party that only reads the president’s mind finds it hard to properly convey grassroots public sentiment to the president. The People Power Party already has a history of losing general elections due to severe factional conflicts disconnected from public sentiment, such as the emergence of ‘Jinbak’ (true pro-Park Geun-hye faction) identifiers during its predecessor, the Saenuri Party era.

The timing of its launch is also controversial. With the party convention expected in the ‘end of February to early March’ next year, there are concerns that Gukmin Gonggam, as a pro-Yoon faction hub, could exert considerable influence. There are even speculations that Kim Ki-hyun, who declared his candidacy for party leader early, might be the ‘Yoon’s mind.’ After Kim met President Yoon for dinner on the 30th of last month and reportedly held a private meeting with Jang Je-won on the 6th, rumors of a ‘Kim-Jang alliance’ have circulated.

At next year’s party convention, the leadership that will hold the nomination rights ahead of the 22nd National Assembly general election in 2024 will be elected. Because of this, many view Gukmin Gonggam’s gathering of strength as an attempt to elect a leadership that can carry out nominations according to the president’s preferences. Conscious of this, Gukmin Gonggam emphasizes that it is not a factional meeting and draws a clear line. After the meeting, Lee Cheol-gyu told reporters, “Please don’t keep calling it faction, faction,” and explained, “All the lawmakers within the party working with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration are together.”

However, doubts remain as to whether they genuinely gathered for ‘study.’ On the day of the first Gukmin Gonggam meeting, lawmakers gathered in the center of the venue with bright smiles when told to take a commemorative photo before the lecture, but several left the conference room once the lecture by Kim Hyung-seok, honorary professor at Yonsei University, began. This is why there is speculation that attendance is for the purpose of making a ‘show of presence.’ A lawmaker inside the party’s remark, “Isn’t it written as ‘Gukmin Gonggam’ but read as ‘Yoonshim Gonggam’ (Yoon’s mind sympathy)?” still lingers in ears.