[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The tension between lawmakers Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Cheol-soo, who are effectively engaged in a 'two-person contest' for the ruling party leadership, is heating up. In particular, Lawmaker Kim pointed out that there could be issues with the party nomination process, highlighting that Lawmaker Ahn is a presidential candidate. In response, Lawmaker Ahn countered, saying, "There is no such thing as automatically becoming a presidential candidate." Relatedly, voices within the party are also warning about the risks when a presidential candidate becomes the party leader.
Hong Joon-pyo, Daegu Mayor and senior advisor to the ruling party, posted on his social media (SNS) on the 30th, stating, "The moment the party falls into the hands of future power, internal division and chaos begin, and that administration effectively loses its strength," adding, "In this party convention, we must first think about how to stabilize the still unrooted Yoon administration."
Hong Mayor's remarks are interpreted as targeting Lawmaker Ahn, a presidential candidate vying for party leadership. Lawmaker Ahn is considered one of the top five next presidential candidates in the ruling party, alongside Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Mayor Hong, and former Lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. On the other hand, Lawmaker Kim lacks nationwide recognition and is not classified as a presidential candidate.
Considering the earlier tensions between Lawmakers Ahn and Kim over the nomination rights for presidential candidates in the general election, Hong Mayor appears to side with Lawmaker Kim's argument. At a youth policy supporters' launch event the day before, Lawmaker Kim said, "If someone thinks they should run for president next time, the temptation to include their supporters in this general election nomination will inevitably grow," adding, "I have given up on running in the next presidential election, so I can ensure the fairest nomination." In response, Lawmaker Ahn rebutted, "There is absolutely no case where the party leader who wins overwhelmingly in next year's general election automatically becomes the presidential candidate," emphasizing, "It is still early in the president's term, and there are three more years ahead, so only those who prove their capabilities during that period can run for president."
Photo by Cheongwadae
Hong Mayor's siding with Lawmaker Kim's claim stems from the trauma within the ruling party from the 2007 Grand National Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) primary. At that time, candidates Lee Myung-bak (MB) and Park Geun-hye focused more on negative campaigning against each other than on policies, and the aftermath lingered long after the primary and presidential election. The suspicions raised during the primary later became the cause of a presidential impeachment and the arrest of a former president ten years later.
Hong pointed out that although former President Lee won the primary and became the 17th president, he could not ignore Park Geun-hye, then the 'future power' as former Grand National Party leader. Hong recalled, "MB became president easily thanks to the anti-Roh Moo-hyun sentiment, but Park, who remained in the party, effectively took control and became the future power," adding, "MB proposed relocating Seoul National University and large corporations to Sejong City instead of moving the administrative capital, but Park outright rejected this, and that moment became a turning point where MB effectively became a figurehead president." While Lawmaker Ahn emphasizes that he is President Yoon's 'shared destiny,' Hong warns that if presidential candidate Ahn opposes the president's policies, President Yoon could become a 'figurehead' like MB in the past.
On the other hand, some argue that it is somewhat premature to discuss the next presidential candidates. Kim Young-ho, a candidate for the People Power Party's youth supreme council member, criticized on his SNS, saying, "It is hard to understand someone who cannot run for president making a declaration as if they are making a bold decision," and added, "Bringing up the presidential election more than four years away to urge withdrawal looks truly petty."
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