President Yoon's Uppercut Draws 'Cheers'... 'Tears of Joy' at the Announcement of the Winner

Highlights of the People Power Party March 8 Convention
Sharp Banners Outside the Venue Saying "Resign"
Cheers Erupt as Candidates Appear

On the 8th, when the People Power Party's national convention was held at Kintex in Gyeonggi Province, over 10,000 party members attended, heating up the atmosphere. Before the main event began, the entrance of the building was filled with banners featuring sharp remarks, creating a fierce cheering battle, but the mood transformed into cheers as President Yoon Seok-yeol entered.

Excitement Rises with President's 'Uppercut'

At the convention that day, the atmosphere heated up as President Yoon appeared at the venue. Party members gathered wherever President Yoon moved. When President Yoon stepped onto the stage to give a congratulatory speech and made an 'uppercut' gesture, party members clenched their fists and raised them, shouting cheers.

After finishing his congratulatory speech, President Yoon exited to the tune of girl group NewJeans' "Hype Boy." As party members continuously chanted "Yoon Seok-yeol," he slowed his pace, briefly stopping to take photos. After President Yoon left, some empty seats were visible here and there in the hall.

On the 8th, candidates for the party leader and supreme council members of the People Power Party greeted delegates at the party's 3rd convention held at KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The 'Candidate Performance' time during the break drew laughter from party members regardless of their support. Candidates who stepped onto the stage picked a letter from a panel and performed the question or command written behind it. When candidate Ahn Cheol-soo drew the command "Sing a line from your favorite song," party members whistled and laughed out loud. Ahn said, "I'm really bad at singing, but I'll sing just one line," then sang "Busan Seagull."

Candidate Tae Young-ho drew the phrase "Share your special cooking recipe" and introduced himself by saying, "I’m good at making egg tofu pancakes." When asked if everyone said it was delicious, Tae replied, "No one else has tried what I made except my wife, and she says it tastes bad," earning laughter and applause from party members.

When singer Park Sang-min sang "Blue Jeans Lady" as an encore, Chairman Jung and other committee members and candidates stood up and danced closely together. Seeing this, party members also stood and shook their bodies along.

President Yoon Suk-yeol clenched his fist after delivering a congratulatory speech at the People Power Party's 3rd National Convention held on the 8th at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

"Resign" and Other Sharp Banners... Cheers Rise from Candidates' Appearance

The national convention's cheering battle began an hour before the event in front of Kintex. Banners with harsher language than usual, such as "If Kim Ki-hyun becomes party leader, Lee Jae-myung won't be imprisoned. Kim Ki-hyun, resign!" and "April 15 election fraud deserves death penalty," were noticeable.

However, inside the hall, the atmosphere was somewhat quiet due to strict security and guards during the entrance process. Unlike the joint rallies from Jeju to Gyeonggi filled with sounds of gongs and support slogans, party members quietly sat in their designated sections and applauded.

Only when the party leadership and candidates for this convention appeared did the hall fill with applause and cheers. The volume of cheers during the pre-videos before the candidates appeared also indicated their support levels. The introduction videos of candidates Kim Ki-hyun and Kim Jae-won received loud applause and cheers, and the cheers peaked during the last candidate Jang Ye-chan’s video. As candidates marched to the soundtrack from the movie "Avengers," supporters stood up and high-fived the candidates in greeting.

Outgoing Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok, whose term ends with the election of the new leadership at this convention, said, "Last year on this day, I attended President Yoon’s final campaign rally at the square in front of City Hall. The excitement of that day is still vivid," adding, "Today’s atmosphere is just like that day." He continued, "After running breathlessly for 180 days, I think it’s time for me to step down from the mound after finishing my role as a relief pitcher," and added, "It’s time to welcome a new ace pitcher."

Announcement of Election Results 'The Finishing Touch'... "Wow, It's Over!" Tears of Passion

The climax of this national convention, called the "Festival of One Million Party Members," was the vote counting moment. As party members stood and moved forward to watch the results announcement, loud voices from the back shouted, "Sit down, sit down, be quiet."

Kim Ki-hyun, the newly elected leader of the People Power Party, is waving the party flag after being elected as the party leader at the party's 3rd national convention held on the afternoon of the 8th at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The announcement of vote percentages proceeded in the order of Youth Supreme Council Member, Supreme Council Member, and Party Leader. When candidate Jang Ye-chan, announced last in alphabetical order for Youth Supreme Council Member, received over 50% of the votes, party members responded with cheers and applause loud enough to drown out the microphone.

Especially when candidate Kim’s vote percentage (52.93%) for party leader, announced first among the candidates, surpassed the majority and his election was confirmed, a thunderous cheer erupted. Even when election commissioner Yoo Heung-soo asked for quiet, the excitement did not subside easily. Supporters tied slogans with Kim’s name around their necks and rushed to the stage shouting, "Wow, it’s over!" and "It’s done!"

Candidate Tae Young-ho, confirmed elected as Supreme Council Member, embraced outgoing Chairman Jeong and shed passionate tears. Another elected Supreme Council Member, Kim Byung-min, also burst into tears during his acceptance speech. When their supported candidates were not elected, some supporters silently took off their hats with support slogans and left their seats.