Heo Eun-ah and Jo Su-jin Also Throw Hats in the Ring... Ruling Party's 'Female Supreme Council Member' Three-Way Contest

Former Lawmaker Jeong Mi-kyung Registers as Candidate on the 2nd
'Lee Jun-seok Faction' vs 'Pro-Yoon Faction' Expected to Split Votes

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] On the 3rd, Assemblywoman Heo Eun-ah and Assemblywoman Jo Su-jin officially declared their candidacy for the Supreme Council member position in the People Power Party's March 8 party convention. Along with former Supreme Council member Jeong Mi-kyung, who had previously announced her candidacy, attention is focused on who will secure the one female quota seat for the Supreme Council.

On the morning of the same day, Assemblywomen Heo and Jo held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office to announce their candidacies. Assemblywoman Heo stated, "I am suffocated by the factionalism and political violence of the forces holding party power, and the democratic diversity within the party has disappeared under the logic of power. Someone must step forward to voice the opinions of the majority of party members, not just the powers that be. That is why I have gathered the courage."

Assemblywoman Jo said, "I have always fought on the front lines and never held back. Jo Su-jin, the vanguard of regime change and the vanguard of power change in local councils, will now run as the vanguard of 'complete regime change' through victory in the general election."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

One Woman Among Four Supreme Council Members... Lee Jun-seok Faction vs Pro-Yoon?

According to the People Power Party's regulations, among the four Supreme Council member seats excluding the youth Supreme Council member, one seat is reserved for a woman. There is an interpretation that the votes for the one female Supreme Council member seat will be divided between the so-called 'anti-Yoon' and Lee Jun-seok faction votes and the 'pro-Yoon' faction votes.

Assemblywoman Heo is classified as a representative member of the Lee Jun-seok faction, with former leader Lee Jun-seok serving as her sponsor chairman. Accordingly, it is expected that Assemblywoman Heo will absorb votes from Lee's support base. At Heo's press conference, Assemblyman Kim Woong and former youth Supreme Council member Kim Yong-tae, who are also classified as pro-Lee Jun-seok faction, were present.

Assemblywoman Heo said, "I am not anti-Yoon but anti Yoon core faction," adding, "It is shameful that those running for party leader still talk about Yoon's mind. Now is the time to talk about party sentiment and public sentiment, not Yoon's mind, and I will not look at such Yoon's mind."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, Assemblywoman Jo is classified as 'pro-Yoon.' She served as the public relations director in the last presidential campaign. At the press conference, she emphasized, "Let us vigorously advance together toward complete regime change to ensure the success and stable support of the Yoon Seok-yeol government."

Former Supreme Council member Jeong Mi-kyung, who officially announced her candidacy last month, is also a strong contender. Former Supreme Council member Jeong was part of Lee Jun-seok's leadership but resigned in August last year. At her candidacy announcement, she declared, "I will serve as a shield for the Yoon Seok-yeol government and the People Power Party," calling herself "the best shield to protect the Yoon government and the People Power Party."

In the Supreme Council election, it is expected that votes from the anti-Yoon support base may be split among Lee Jun-seok faction candidates. Political commentator Park Sang-pyeong said, "Challenging for the Supreme Council as an anti-Yoon faction has its own significance, and if many votes come in, it could become politically important. Regardless of whether they support former leader Lee, since Lee was frustrated by the Yoon core faction, it will appeal to party members who criticize the People Power Party led by the Yoon core faction."

Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy explained, "There is a possibility that an anti-Yoon candidate will be elected as a Supreme Council member because a so-called 'red team' type person is needed." The 'red team' refers to an organization that plays the role of internal critic.