The People's Power Party's National Convention Kicks Off with a Four-Person, Four-Style Election Battle

7·23 Jeondae Official Election Campaign Begins
Conservative 'Orthodox' Na Kyung-won, 'Reform' Emphasized by Yoon Sang-hyun
Party-Government Relations 'One Team' Won Hee-ryong, 'Horizontal' Advocated by Han Dong-hoon

The curtain has risen on the People Power Party's July 23 leadership election. There are a total of four candidates for party leader: Representative Na Kyung-won, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, Representative Yoon Sang-hyun, and former Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon. On the first day of the official campaign on the 24th, they appeared together at official events inside and outside the party, appealing for support.

All four leadership candidates attended a study meeting for first-term lawmakers held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that morning. At this meeting, first-term lawmakers invited constitutional scholar Professor Jang Young-soo from Korea University Law School to hold a discussion on the topic, "Does the trial stop if the defendant becomes president?"

Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the National Assembly who declared his candidacy for the leadership of the People Power Party (second from the left in the front row), former Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon, Assemblywoman Na Kyung-won, and former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong attended the study meeting of first-term members of the People Power Party held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 24th. They are cheering together while taking a commemorative photo with Emergency Response Committee Chairman Hwang Woo-yeo and Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho.
Photo by Yonhap News

The first to arrive at the study meeting was former Minister Won Hee-ryong, who emphasized the "one team" concept by referring to his long political experience. Former Minister Won said, "I entered the Grand National Party as a first-term lawmaker 25 years ago," adding, "At that time, about 50 first-term lawmakers and out-of-office committee chairpersons formed a study group and engaged in intense political activities." At his press conference announcing his candidacy the day before, former Minister Won presented a "one team" strategy emphasizing that the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration could lead to the re-creation of the regime.

Representative Na Kyung-won, who stated she would not run in the next presidential election if elected party leader, said, "First-term lawmakers should always be symbols of reform and conviction," offering words of encouragement to first-term lawmakers. Emphasizing "winning politics," Representative Na, who declared she would focus solely on the party, said, "I ran for the leadership election to create a platform where first-term lawmakers can carry out reformist activities according to their convictions."

Next, Representative Yoon Sang-hyun highlighted his experience of five consecutive terms in the metropolitan area, saying, "Ten years ago, I played a key role in the Park Geun-hye administration. However, after former President Park Geun-hye was impeached, I faced a one-year suspension of party membership, removal as district party chairman, and was twice denied nomination, but I continued on as an independent," emphasizing, "The lesson I learned is not to line up behind anyone." Since the general election defeat, Representative Yoon has mentioned reform, and he is expected to highlight a reformist conservative image in this election.

The most notable candidate in this leadership election, former Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon, has taken a confrontational stance against Yongsan while also emphasizing that he is the right person to fight against Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader. At the meeting, former Chairman Han said, "For two years, I have fought on the front lines against the opposition without holding back," adding, "The main way we fight is to make people think, 'Is it reasonable for such a person to become president? Even if they do, it would inevitably cause great chaos.'"

On the morning of the 24th, People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho attended a study meeting for first-term members of the People Power Party held at the National Assembly, greeting Na Kyung-won, who declared her candidacy for party leader, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, and lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun. 2024.6.24 [Image source=Yonhap News]

After the first-term lawmakers' study meeting, the candidates also stopped by the "Future Innovation Forum" led by Representative Kim Ki-hyun to court votes. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended this event, along with Democratic Party Representative Han Byung-do and Reform New Party Representative Lee Jun-seok.

The day before, the candidates engaged in a tense exchange over the "Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act." When former Chairman Han said, "I will propose a special prosecutor law that can uncover the truth within the People Power Party," the other candidates immediately expressed opposition.