Tensions Over 'Sudogwon Candidacy'
Competition in Runoff Without Yoo Seung-min and Na Kyung-won
Variable: 'Na Kyung-won Candidacy'
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the party convention approaches in March, conflicts are erupting among the 'alliances' within the ruling party.
The so-called 'Yun Hae-gwan (Yoon Seok-yeol Core Associates)' faction, represented by Assemblyman Jang Je-won, is clashing with the 'Kim-Jang Alliance' of Assemblyman Kim Ki-hyun, a party leadership candidate, and the 'Ahn-Yun Alliance (Ahn Cheol-soo - Yoon Sang-hyun)' led by another leadership candidate.
Debates over 'running in difficult constituencies in the metropolitan area' have intensified, with the language escalating to terms like 'unfilial' and 'old-fashioned.' Since Assemblymen Kim and Ahn, the core figures of the two alliances, have been engaged in behind-the-scenes tensions since last year, clashes seem inevitable.
Clash between Kim-Jang and Ahn-Yun... Language Growing Harsh
Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, and Jang Je-won attended the study group 'National Sympathy' held at the National Assembly on the 7th, exchanging greetings. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
On the 4th, Assemblyman Yoon posted on his social media, "The 'demand to run in the metropolitan area' by Assemblymen Kim Ki-hyun and Jang Je-won seems to pick time and people," and directly hit back, saying, "'Double standards (doing romance when I do it, adultery when others do it)'?are you forming an alliance on that basis?"
He criticized the alliance of the two assemblymen who responded to his metropolitan area candidacy demand by calling it "unfilial remarks that disregard local constituents (Assemblyman Jang Je-won)" and "petty talk (Assemblyman Kim Ki-hyun)."
On the 3rd, Assemblyman Yoon also targeted the 'Kim-Jang Alliance,' stating, "Political maturation does not happen in the warm backroom called the Kim-Jang Alliance but is enriched through proper fermentation in the cold and long winter at the front lines."
The 'Ahn-Yun Alliance' responding to the 'Kim-Jang Alliance' became visible on the 2nd when Assemblyman Ahn responded positively to Assemblyman Yoon's proposed 'joint declaration to run in the metropolitan area.' Among the party leadership candidates, only these two currently hold constituencies in the metropolitan area, and although they claim to be pro-Yoon, they are considered distant from the 'core,' placing them in similar positions.
Political commentator Lee Jong-geun also evaluated on YTN's 'News Live' on the 3rd that Assemblyman Yoon has party organization strength, while Assemblyman Ahn has recognition, making their relationship mutually beneficial.
Will Running in the Metropolitan Area Lead to Party Victory?
The point of conflict between the Kim-Jang Alliance and the Ahn-Yun Alliance is the 'metropolitan area candidacy theory.' The logic is that to overcome the party's weakness in the metropolitan area, rather than the party stronghold of Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK), a party leader from the metropolitan area is necessary.
The argument that senior or well-known assemblymen should run in the 'difficult constituencies' of the metropolitan area to contribute to the party's victory has been consistently raised since the Saenuri Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, before general elections. Assemblyman Yoon's claim is in line with this tradition.
However, the candidacy of a prominent politician in a difficult constituency has not always led to party victory. Assemblyman Kim also dismissed Assemblyman Yoon's claim on his SNS by citing former party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn's case, who ran in Jongno in the 21st general election three years ago but failed to lead the party to victory, stating, "The party leader's candidacy in the metropolitan area is unrelated to the party's victory."
It is also problematic that the two assemblymen advocating the 'metropolitan area candidacy theory' have constituencies in the metropolitan area themselves. Former People Power Party Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "If someone whose constituency is in the metropolitan area tells others to 'run in the metropolitan area,' it is unfair because they do not change themselves but only talk about others."
The Variable is 'Na Kyung-won's Candidacy'
The fundamental reason for the conflict between these 'alliances' is the party leadership competition between Assemblymen Kim and Ahn. If Na Kyung-won, Vice Chair of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, who leads in internal and overall party polls, and former Assemblyman Yoo Seung-min do not run, these two are the most likely candidates to face off in a runoff.
Assemblyman Ahn holds second place in party and overall support in opinion polls, while Assemblyman Kim, though less popular with the public, has risen to the top three in internal party support.
Assemblymen Kim and Ahn have already been engaged in tensions over party leadership since last year. In July, they disagreed over an 'early party convention,' and in August, they had differing opinions on whether to transition to a provisional party committee.
Assemblyman Kim even targeted Assemblyman Ahn on social media, saying, "An assemblyman who wants to lead the party did not clearly state his position at the party meeting, remained ambiguous, and later made statements that reversed the meeting's results, causing confusion."
The variable is Vice Chair Na's candidacy for party leader. As President Yoon Seok-yeol has stated there will be 'no cabinet reshuffle,' Vice Chair Na has increasingly hinted at running for party leader. On this day, she emphasized representing 'Yun's heart (尹心)' by posting remarks from her past tenure as floor leader on social media.
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