"Stimulated the Spirit of Challenge," but... Yoo Seung-min's 'Centrist Withdrawal Theory' Emerges Amid Rule Changes

Yoo Seung-min "Rule Change Stimulates Spirit of Challenge"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Due to the ruling party's change in the party convention rules, raising the reflection rate of party members' support from 70% to 100%, there is an analysis that former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, who has relatively weaker support among party members, may give up midway. Former lawmaker Yoo expressed that the rule change "stimulated his spirit of challenge" and showed strong determination, but he has yet to make an official declaration of candidacy.

On the 22nd, Yoo appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and responded "No" to the host's question, "Have you decided to run for the party convention?" adding, "I am seriously considering it."

He said, "I have not firmly decided to run," and "I am listening to many opinions, most of which encourage me to run, but since the choice is mine and the party convention is around March, I need to make a decision without delay."

Competitors within the party who have already decided to run have declared their candidacy early and are traveling nationwide to secure party members' support. Nevertheless, Yoo has yet to confirm his candidacy. The main reason appears to be that the rule change, which stipulates 100% party member support and the application of a runoff voting system, has made his chances of winning uncertain even if he runs.

Yoo stated that the recent rule change clearly sends the message "'Yoo Seung-min is not acceptable, and even if he runs, we will block him.' That rather stimulates my spirit of challenge," showing strong will to run. However, it is clear that his position in the party convention has diminished due to this rule change. Although he leads in support among next ruling party leadership candidates in various opinion polls, when narrowed down to supporters of the People Power Party, his support rate is lower than that of former lawmaker Na Kyung-won and lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo.

Some predict the possibility of his mid-course withdrawal. On the 21st, Yoon Tae-gon, head of political analysis at The Moa, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "There is a possibility he won't run," analyzing, "If (the party leader) is not possible, wouldn't things get worse afterward? Rather, not running could reduce risks. Such a judgment is possible." If he runs for party leader and fails, his political future could become uncertain.

Another basis for the 'mid-course withdrawal theory' is that Yoo has not taken concrete actions to run. Yoon pointed out that unlike other ruling party leadership candidates such as Kim Ki-hyun, Cho Kyung-tae, and Ahn Cheol-soo, who visit their constituencies or party events to raise their voices, Yoo's activities are limited to posting on social media and appearing on radio broadcasts. He added, "It's not a mid-course withdrawal but rather that he hasn't started. He is not jumping in."

On the same day, lawmaker Cho Kyung-tae also said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "Judging by his remarks, it seems he is hesitating whether to run or not," supporting the mid-course withdrawal theory. According to Yoo's own claim that "If the party convention rules change to 100% party member support, the party will suffer a crushing defeat in the general election," there is an analysis that there is no reason for him to run in the party convention.

He said, "(If Yoo runs,) it would be self-contradictory," adding, "Does that mean he won't run? It's ambiguous. As a member of the party, even though the party leader has not been decided yet, using expressions like the party will suffer a crushing defeat or won't run is somewhat excessive."