The Democratic Party and Think Tank Forum Call to "Break Away from 'Yeongnam Jaminryun'"

Party-wide Reflection Meeting Two Weeks After General Election Defeat
Continued Reflection Efforts Including Formation of General Election White Paper TF

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the discussion forum titled "Tasks Left by the 22nd General Election," hosted by the Yeouido Research Institute at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 25th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The People Power Party, which suffered a crushing defeat in the April 10 general election, held a discussion forum hosted by its think tank, the Yeouido Research Institute, to analyze the causes of the loss. This forum, the party's first reflection meeting held 15 days after the election, featured voices of self-criticism from the attendees.

On the morning of the 25th, Yoon Jae-ok, Acting Party Leader of the People Power Party, stated at the forum held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, "The People Power Party is currently in a great crisis," adding, "The current problems did not suddenly arise but have gradually accumulated without us realizing it." He emphasized, "It may take a long time to fix these chronic issues, but no matter how difficult the process, we must change and improve."

Hong Young-rim, Director of the Yeouido Research Institute, said, "As the director of the Yeouido Research Institute, I am deeply sorry to face the stern public sentiment in the 22nd general election," adding, "Despite our strenuous efforts, there were many shortcomings in the eyes of the public." He continued, "It is time to coldly reflect on the image of our party as seen by the public," and noted, "There are criticisms that the problems are not just recent but have existed for a long time."

Bae Jun-young, Acting Secretary-General, said, "Our party has gone through numerous crises and turning points but ultimately overcame them," citing, "Notable examples include the 2004 tent party office and the 2016 impeachment crisis, during which we endured innovation at the level of re-founding the party and made painstaking efforts to regain public trust and support." He added, "We can overcome the crisis of defeat in this election as well, and the urgency of the crisis can create opportunities," insisting, "For that, thorough self-reflection must come first."

Kim Jong-hyuk, Deputy Head of the Party Organization Department and a panelist at the forum, said in a phone interview, "The president's image (President Identity) deteriorated so much that the atmosphere shifted toward a judgment vote, which determined the election outcome," criticizing, "I don't know what the presidential publicity office has been doing for the past two years. In the metropolitan area, even presidential candidate-level figures like Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo barely won. It was not an issue of individual candidates' capabilities or policies but a defeat based on evaluations of the presidential office and the People Power Party." Kim also said, "The economy is collapsing, but politics is indifferent, and this criticism fully falls on the ruling party," warning, "If we do not break away from being the 'Yeongnam branch of the United Liberal Democrats,' the party's future is bleak."

The forum was chaired by Park Myung-ho, professor of Political Science and Diplomacy at Dongguk University. Discussants included Park Won-ho, professor of Political Science and Diplomacy at Seoul National University, and Bae Jong-chan, director of Insight K Research Institute. From the People Power Party, Acting Leader Yoon, Acting Secretary-General Bae, Deputy Head Kim, Busan Dongnae elected member Seo Ji-young, and Seoul Dobong-gap elected member Kim Jae-seop attended.

The People Power Party has continued its reflection efforts by forming a General Election White Paper Task Force (TF) to analyze the causes of the election defeat, following the second elected members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. The TF chairman is second-term lawmaker Jo Jeong-hoon, who has been given full authority over the white paper's preparation. Jo plans to complete the white paper by the end of June, when the party convention is scheduled, conducting surveys with all 254 candidates who ran in constituencies.