No Talk of 'Breakup' from Jeon Gwang-hoon... The Ruling Party's Strategy to Cut Ties

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who had previously signaled a "breakup with the People Power Party," is still trying to exert influence by demanding the abolition of nomination rights instead of a breakup. However, with the general election just over a year away, it is necessary to distance from the "asphalt conservatives" represented by Pastor Jeon in order to attract moderate voters. Ruling party figures propose disciplining Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member who made inappropriate remarks at Pastor Jeon's worship service, and purging dual party memberships as alternatives.

On the 18th, Hwang Kyo-ahn, former leader of the United Future Party, said on SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show," "Everyone was preparing for a breakup, but he said he would recruit more of our party members, and in the end, he intends to take over our party. It seems he still hasn't reached a correct conclusion," adding, "It seems difficult to go together."

The day before, Pastor Jeon held an emergency press conference, advocating for the abolition of nomination rights and a nationwide People Power Party membership drive. However, this was far from the "breakup declaration with the People Power Party" that Pastor Jeon had previously announced, leading to various speculations about the background.

Former leader Hwang said, "He has long said he would create lawmakers but hasn't made a single one. He keeps hovering around our party, but our party has its own values," adding, "We will continue as we are, and it is judged that it will be difficult for Pastor Jeon to go along with us."

Attention is focused on the relationship between Pastor Jeon and the People Power Party because the general election is just a year away. Hwang, who served as the leader of the United Future Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, is evaluated to have caused moderate voter defection by focusing on outdoor rallies just before the 21st general election in 2019. If a similar situation occurs again, the ruling party could be at a disadvantage in the general election.

Regarding Pastor Jeon's remarks, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, said, "It's outrageous and absurd. I wish he would just shut his mouth immediately." Although Kim has consistently ignored Pastor Jeon on the grounds that he is not a party member, there have been repeated criticisms inside and outside the party that the leadership's response is passive. In particular, Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, has pointed this out several times through social media (SNS).

There are calls that internal discipline within the People Power Party is important to break ties with forces represented by Pastor Jeon and the "asphalt conservatives." Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook said on KBS's "Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs," "The important thing is for the party to clearly show that it is not swayed by his voice," adding, "It is important for the party leader and our leadership to internally discipline politicians who go there to flatter, seek political gain, and make promises."