Yoon Sang-hyun "Ruling Party Unable to Publish Election White Paper, Must End Factional Politics" [Party Leadership Candidate Interview]③

Handonghun, who has no trust relationship with the Presidential Office, is a risk
Won Heeryong, with a vertical party-government relationship, is also a problem
"Driving a check-and-balance cooperative relationship with the Presidential Office," he asserts

"Even after more than 80 days since the general election ended, this party has not been able to produce a single election white paper. The People Power Party, which is like a cemetery of peace, needs creative destruction."

Yoon Sang-hyun, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, said in an interview with Asia Economy on the 5th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, "The current party convention is fighting between the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) and pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) factions. I came out to blow up the lawmakers and party district committee chairs who line up or arrange lines," he said. Yoon emphasized that "we are heading toward mutual destruction due to chronic factional politics" and that change and innovation are necessary.

Yoon Sang-hyun, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, is being interviewed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Candidate Han Dong-hoon also put forward 'change' as his slogan.

I don't know what kind of change he is talking about. Change should first be a process in which our party achieves innovation based on reflection and introspection. We suffered a completely devastating defeat in the general election, and the first step is to publish a white paper reflecting and introspecting on that. But they are not even doing that. You need the courage to face your own mistakes honestly to talk about change. Talking only about change without taking responsibility for the election defeat is self-contradictory. They should boldly say, 'Publish the general election white paper, I will be verified.' Han seems to lack much in terms of putting the word change into action.

Isn't it that candidate Han intends to take full responsibility and complete the change?

If he is going to come back in 2-3 months, why did he resign? What was the need to resign? Resignation was a gesture to avoid responsibility and make excuses. And now he is coming back again? Then what is the difference from the Democratic Party of Korea? Conservatism should have dignity. The president's responsibility is a given, but who conducted the election? The emergency committee chair oversaw all nomination strategies, messaging, personnel, and policies. It is the right attitude to take responsibility where it is due.

Conflicts with First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the presidential office are also coming to light.

Candidate Han divides text messages into official and private relationships, but the presidential couple has long nurtured him. They promoted him several steps up from deputy head of the Judicial Research and Training Institute (chief prosecutor) to Minister of Justice and emergency committee chair. He is a kind of 'Crown Prince.' There must have been duties to be fulfilled from a human relationship perspective. However, dividing relationships into official and private shows a lack of trust even toward Mrs. Kim. The 'Marie Antoinette' remark came out at that time, and I strongly suspect it was deliberately ignored. It seems he thought sacrifice was necessary to succeed within a differentiation strategy.

Yoon Sang-hyun, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, is being interviewed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Candidate Han's approval rating remains high.

Because the People Power Party lacks a presidential candidate. Also, the announced approval ratings reflect public opinion, which is likely very different from party members' opinions. You can feel it on the ground; party members want President Yoon Seok-yeol and the government to succeed and do not want to be trapped again in the nightmare of impeachment. If harsh words continue to come from the presidential office saying candidate Han's trust is at rock bottom, party members will have various thoughts.

If you become party leader, how will you manage the party-government relationship?

You should not rely too much on President Yoon's favor. Candidate Won Hee-ryong is like that now. Haven't we seen what happens with a vertical party-government relationship? Instead, there must be trust with the president. You must have trust and convey all the sharp voices of public opinion. At the same time, you should help the president make proper decisions in governing the country. The party leads the president. Since the party must negotiate with the Democratic Party of Korea, it sometimes needs to cooperate with the presidential office and sometimes maintain a check-and-balance cooperative relationship. The most important thing is a trust relationship.

Yoon Sang-hyun, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, is being interviewed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

You emphasize traditional conservatism; how do you differentiate yourself from candidate Na Kyung-won?

My major is completely different from candidate Na's. I studied economics and international politics, not law. Last year, amid nomination threats, I kept talking about the crisis in the metropolitan area, but candidate Na did not acknowledge the metropolitan crisis. Also, while three others supported the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, I opposed it until the end. When the president was impeached, the right wing was in crisis, and the party was divided, I shared hardships and tears with party members. Even when the party abandoned me, I did not abandon the party. I ran as an independent and, upon returning, rejoined the party... I went back and forth between being independent and rejoining.