Gangseo Daechup Defeat, Ruling Party "Considering Drastic Measures for Election Victory"

12th People Power Party Supreme Council Meeting
Leadership with Firm Expressions: "We Will Humbly Accept... More Resolute Self-Reform"

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, said on the 12th regarding the crushing defeat in the by-election for the Mayor of Gangseo District in Seoul, "We will coldly analyze the causes of this election defeat and devise special measures to secure victory in the general election." This is interpreted as an effort to contain the rapidly emerging crisis theory within the party about the metropolitan area after Kim Tae-woo, the People Power Party candidate, lost by a margin of more than 17 percentage points in the election held the previous day.

On the same day, Kim held a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly and said, "We will prepare customized alternatives so that we can gain more public support in regions where our party is relatively weak, including the metropolitan area."

Earlier, Kim and other party leaders entered the meeting room with stern expressions.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Regarding the result where the People Power Party candidate trailed by 17.15 percentage points behind Jin Gyo-hoon of the Democratic Party, who was elected as Mayor of Gangseo District, Kim said, "We will respect the results and humbly accept them, reflect on them, and work even harder." He added, "Although our candidate lost, we will strive to faithfully fulfill the role our party must play for the development of Gangseo."

Floor leader Yoon Jae-ok commented on the election results, saying, "Even if the results do not meet expectations, I believe that not twisting the facts and accepting the public's judgment as it is will be the foundation to overcome defeat and move forward again."

Yoon continued, "I think the decisive factor in voting was, above all, the livelihood of the people," and said, "We will identify and supplement the shortcomings in our party's policies so far and devote all our efforts to economic and livelihood recovery to better align with the will of the people."

The People Power Party held a preliminary countermeasure meeting before the Supreme Council meeting on the same day and plans to hold an emergency Supreme Council meeting on the 13th to discuss specific plans for improving the party's structure.