Three Candidates for Party Floor Leader Unite in Calling for "Building a Healthy Party-Government Relationship and Restoring Trust"

People Power Party Floor Leader Policy Presentation
Choo Kyung-ho 'Experience' vs Lee Jong-bae 'Centrist Expansion' vs Song Seok-jun 'Capital Region Public Sentiment'

Three candidates running for the floor leader of the People Power Party expressed their intention on the 8th to establish a healthy party-government relationship in the future. In response to repeated criticisms that the ruling party has been swayed by the Presidential Office on various issues such as the general election, the candidates also signaled that the ruling party would take a leading role based on public sentiment and policy.

Representative Chu Kyung-ho (Daegu Dalseo, 3-term) stated at the policy presentation held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "Under the recognition that the party and government are one community of destiny, we will build a healthy party-government system based on trust," adding, "The party will take a leading role in addressing livelihood issues."

Representative Lee Jong-bae (Chungbuk Chungju, 4-term) pledged, "The People Power Party, as a community of destiny, will establish a healthy party-government relationship to succeed together," and "We will reorganize the Policy Committee and revitalize the Policy Coordination Committee to lead the party's major policies." Representative Song Seok-jun (Gyeonggi Icheon, 3-term) also emphasized, "We will strengthen communication within the party to unite as one and sincerely understand public sentiment," and "As a responsible ruling party, if the party and government respond together, we can surely regain public trust."

Lee Jong-bae (from left), Choo Kyung-ho, and Song Seok-jun, who ran for the People Power Party floor leader election, are holding hands at the policy presentation meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. The People Power Party floor leader election, with Lee Jong-bae (4-term, Chungbuk Chungju), Choo Kyung-ho (3-term, Daegu Dalseong), and Song Seok-jun (3-term, Gyeonggi Icheon) as candidates, will be held on the 9th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

All three candidates also mentioned their strengths in building a healthy party-government relationship. Representative Chu said, "I will convey the on-site public sentiment and the consensus of the members without distortion and find solutions skillfully and competently through close party-government communication," adding, "I will fully utilize my 35 years of accumulated government experience as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister for Government Policy Coordination." This implies that, having served as the first Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, he has an advantage in communication both within the assembly and between the party and government.

Representative Lee, who succeeded in winning a third term in the casting-voter region of Chungcheong, said, "As the longest-serving member in the Chungcheong region, free from factions and regionalism, and having won five consecutive elections in Chungju, Chungbuk, where conservatives, progressives, and moderates are divided into three, I possess the centrist decisiveness most needed by our party. I will devote all my experience to tirelessly transforming our party into a nationwide political party."

On the other hand, Representative Song emphasized the public sentiment in the metropolitan area. During his policy presentation, he appealed, "I was the first to be elected as a three-term member of the National Assembly from Icheon, Gyeonggi Province," and "The People Power Party suffered a crushing defeat in the general election, especially in the metropolitan area. Please elect me, who knows the metropolitan public sentiment better than anyone else."

The candidates also analyzed the causes of the general election defeat. Representative Song said, "We should have properly addressed the urgent livelihood crises existing in our society, but there were many shortcomings."

Representative Chu mentioned, "There may be various reasons for losing the election, but I think our ability to empathize with the people was lacking. We failed to gain trust because we did not think together with the people from their perspective and concerns."

Representative Lee responded, "We were defeated because we failed to gain national consensus. I reflect that what we say differs from the people's thoughts and the policies we propose have not penetrated into the public."

Similarly, when asked about the primary mission as floor leader, the main responses were restoring public trust and reflecting public sentiment.

Representative Lee said, "The question is how to overcome this general election defeat. We failed to gain national consensus," adding, "To earn the people's trust, we must accurately identify their pain and difficulties and present solutions accordingly."

Representative Chu stated, "Restoring public trust is an urgent priority. We must truly become a competent party for livelihood policies," and "When we propose policies that the people desire and engage in politics, the people will applaud and the spark of trust will be rekindled."

Representative Song responded, "The party, government, and Presidential Office must communicate organically and convey public sentiment without distortion so that the government can create proper solutions and provide appropriate legislative support," adding, "How to deal with the majority opposition party is also an important task that the party leadership must face."

Regarding questions about party unity and embracing non-mainstream factions, the three candidates shared a common stance that while they respect individual opinions, they must follow party decisions once established. They emphasized that even as a ruling party with 108 seats, they must unite to face the massive opposition party with 192 seats.

Representative Lee explained, "The principle is to follow party decisions, but until the party line is decided, there should be sufficient debate and discussion to build consensus, ensure understanding of the content, and provide ample opportunities for members to express their opinions and discuss why they may not follow the party line."

Representative Chu said, "When a party line or overall decision is made, it means many people have agreed on it, and it is right to move along with the party's opinion," adding, "In the current situation, if our 108 members do not unite tightly, the party cannot advance even a step. We must share this awareness as the 22nd National Assembly begins."

Representative Song also stated, "Maintaining one's personal conviction to the end is a form of politics, and if it is a promise to one's constituency and the people, one can do so," but added, "However, there are times when we must set aside our convictions for the greater good."