TF Meeting on the General Election White Paper: "If We Do Nothing, We'll Remain a Perennial Second-Place Party"

"No Discussions" on Claims of a "General Election Responsible Person List"

On the 7th, the People Power Party held the second general election white paper task force (TF) meeting and conducted an evaluation, including an analysis of the causes of the election defeat. At the meeting, members exchanged remarks such as "If we do nothing in this state, we will remain a perennial second-place party."

After concluding the 2nd TF meeting at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, TF Chairman Jo Jeong-hoon told reporters, "We discussed the causes of the general election defeat and how to become a winning party again. Since it was a closed meeting, sharp and candid discussions took place."

Chairman Jo particularly expressed a sense of crisis, saying, "'This general election was supposed to be the most favorable election for the People Power Party,'" and added, "'The panelists pointed out failures in setting various agendas, the fact that the traditional support base is aging when considering generational and regional situations, the reduction of seats in Yeongnam and Honam regions, and the expected expansion in the metropolitan area, making this election one fought on the most advantageous terrain for the People Power Party.' I felt solemn and shared the sense of urgency."

Cho Jung-hoon, Chairman of the People Power Party's 22nd General Election White Paper Task Force, is speaking at the 2nd full meeting of the White Paper Task Force held at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The meeting held that morning at the People Power Party central headquarters was attended by TF members including Chairman Jo, Dongguk University Professor Park Myung-ho, Youth Politics Crew representative Lee Dong-soo, former lawmaker Jeon Yeo-ok, and former Munhwa Ilbo reporter Heo Min.

Regarding Professor Park Myung-ho's demand at the TF meeting that "the final page of the white paper should include a list of those responsible for this general election," it was dismissed as "Professor Park's personal opinion and was not discussed." Since the white paper is not being created to target specific individuals, no list will be made.

However, Chairman Jo added, "I believe it is necessary to clarify what happened and why we lost," and "One thing is certain: we did not lose this general election due to bad luck. There are reasons, and the white paper will only be meaningful if these reasons are explained concretely to a level that People Power Party supporters and the public can accept."

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chairman Jo emphasized, "We did not gather to wallow in defeat or to attack specific incidents or individuals," but also stressed, "No cause of defeat should be concealed."

Regarding the confidential in-depth interviews, Chairman Jo stated, "We have started communication with the Presidential Office on how to proceed with the interviews and plan to conduct them soon," and added that opinions from the general election leadership, including former Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon and former Nomination Committee Chairman Jeong Young-hwan, will be heard at the appropriate time and in an appropriate manner.