Although an Emergency Situation... Why the People Power Party Chose a 'Managed' Emergency Committee

Practical Nature of Holding the Party Congress
'Handonghun's Influence' and '3 Years Remaining in the President's Term'

The People Power Party, plunged into an emergency situation after the general election defeat, chose a stable interim leadership system rather than innovation. On the 16th, Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, met with reporters after the elected members' meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and said, "This is not a situation to have an innovative emergency response committee," adding, "You can think of it as a practical emergency committee to hold the party convention." A ruling party official said, "There is also the shock of the crushing defeat, and the party needs time to analyze the causes of the election loss and create a white paper." Although the person to take the position of emergency committee chairman has not yet been decided, Yoon is emerging as a strong alternative. The People Power Party is expected to hold the party convention by July at the latest.

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the 22nd National Assembly People Power Party and People’s Future elected members' general meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Unignorable Influence of 'Han Dong-hoon'

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is greeting before expressing his position on the general election defeat at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 11th. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

The People Power Party also lacks suitable external figures to put forward for the emergency committee. To contest this general election, the party brought in external figures such as former Innovation Committee Chairman In Yo-han and former emergency committee chairman Han Dong-hoon. However, this only intensified internal confusion and resulted in solidifying a 'one-top system' rather than creating synergy.

The influence of former emergency committee chairman Han Dong-hoon is also undeniable. Voices within the party still call for his return. Since the 15th, wreaths supporting former emergency committee chairman Han have been placed in front of the National Assembly's Constitution Hall in Yeouido, Seoul. According to a survey conducted by Media Tomato on behalf of News Tomato from the 13th to 14th, targeting 1,017 men and women nationwide aged 18 and over, 44.7% of People Power Party supporters (331 respondents) chose former emergency committee chairman Han as the preferred leader to lead the party. Following him, elected member Na Kyung-won received 18.9%, and elected member Ahn Cheol-soo received 9.4%. For detailed poll results, please refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.

The Burden of Separation from Yoon with 3 Years Left in Term

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the 16th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Since President Yoon has more than three years left in his term, some mid-level pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) lawmakers are still mentioned as potential next leaders. Representative pro-Yoon lawmakers Kwon Seong-dong and Lee Cheol-gyu survived despite the crushing general election defeat. After the elected members' meeting the day before, Representative Kwon told reporters at the National Assembly, "I lack ability, but I am grateful that the media mentions me as a candidate for party leadership," adding, "Now is the time to deeply reflect on the election defeat, analyze the causes, and focus more on how to revive the party."