People in their 30s and 40s of the People Power Party put the brakes on 'early party leadership election'

3040 Politicians Form 'First Mokhoe'... Asserting Presence
Kim Jaeseop "Prioritize Analyzing Causes of General Election Defeat"

The People Power Party meets with defeated candidates to receive advice related to the crushing defeat in the general election. Amid the undecided leadership system, voices opposing an early party convention are emerging, centered around young politicians in their 30s and 40s.

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@

According to the People Power Party on the 19th, Floor Leader Yoon Jae-ok will hold an 'Out-of-Parliament Organization Chairpersons Meeting' at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, in the morning. This meeting was arranged following Ahn Cheol-soo, a newly elected member, suggesting on the 16th that defeated candidates should be met to discuss the causes of the metropolitan area defeat. At the meeting, about 100 defeated candidates from constituencies will share their opinions on the causes of the general election loss and the party leadership system. Floor Leader Yoon said, "We have listened through meetings with senior lawmakers, elected members' assemblies, and meetings with first-term lawmakers. Today, hearing the opinions of out-of-parliament chairpersons is the most painful but considered essential," adding, "Please speak frankly about what we need to reflect on and correct at this meeting."

Defeated candidates from the People Power Party in the metropolitan area have been showing their presence since their loss. Park Sang-su, candidate for Incheon Seo-gu Gap, announced on Facebook the day before that he formed the 'Cheotmokhoe.' The name Cheotmokhoe implies that young politicians in their 30s and 40s who ran in tough metropolitan constituencies meet every Thursday. Founding members include elected member Kim Jae-seop and candidates Park Sang-su, Park Eun-sik (Gwangju Dongnam-gu Eul), Seo Jeong-hyun (Ansan-si Eul), Lee Sang-gyu (Seoul Seongbuk-gu Eul), Lee Seung-hwan (Seoul Jungnang-gu Eul), Lee Jae-young (Seoul Gangdong-gu Eul), Jeon Sang-beom (Seoul Gangbuk-gu Gap), and Han Jeong-min (Hwaseong-si Eul). Park Sang-su said, "Sadly, our party has become one where out-of-parliament party district chairpersons outnumber those in the National Assembly," and added, "Although most of us lost, we intend to try politics for our generation."

Additionally, opposition to an early party convention is emerging, centered on politicians in their 30s and 40s. The argument is that analyzing the causes of the general election defeat should come first, and it is not yet time to prepare a stage for establishing new leadership. Elected member Kim Jae-seop said at the 'General Election Defeat and Conservative Reconstruction Seminar' the day before, "We should first coolly review the defeat, but an early party convention is being held," adding, "(An early party convention) may temporarily relieve the sense of defeat, but it is not a panacea."

There are also opinions that work should begin to analyze the causes of the general election defeat, such as through a white paper. A first-term lawmaker said in a phone interview, "Since the opinion to create a white paper came up at the elected members' assembly on the 16th, there has been no significant movement," and added, "Someone needs to take the lead, but it is regrettable that no one is taking responsibility to analyze the reasons for the general election defeat."