Deepening Internal Strife in People Power Party... Leadership of the Leadership Under Scrutiny

Silent on Lawmakers Joining Hardline Protests
Pressure on Those Supporting Dual Special Prosecutor Law

Amid the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol, the leadership of the People Power Party's top brass has become a subject of controversy. While the party refrained from commenting on lawmakers who participated in protests by the so-called 'asphalt far-right' hardline supporters, calling their actions 'individual behavior,' it has pressured lawmakers who voted in favor of the 'dual special prosecutor law' re-vote for breaking party lines, escalating the controversy.

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party's strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the 10th, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, met with reporters after a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly and said, "(Regarding the protests) individual lawmakers acted as members of a constitutional institution, so there is nothing special to mention." However, nearly half of the party's members had previously gathered at the Hannam-dong residence to block the execution of arrest warrants, and this trend is likely to continue. Nevertheless, the party leadership remains tight-lipped.

On the other hand, the leadership has strongly criticized lawmakers who broke party lines by voting in favor during the re-vote on the 'special investigation law on insurrection' and the 'special investigation law on Mrs. Kim Geon-hee,' which returned to the National Assembly on the 8th. Lawmaker Kim Sang-wook, who was urged to leave the party by Floor Leader Kwon for voting in favor of the dual special prosecutor law, has been notified of a committee reassignment and is expected to move from the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee to the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee.

Within the party, members lament that it is virtually impossible to express opinions differing from the majority faction during party meetings. This means there is practically no way to voice personal views outside of plenary session votes. The recent creation of a Telegram group by lawmakers from the pro-Han (Pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction is not unrelated to this atmosphere. A lawmaker who supported the impeachment pointed out, "The party meeting should be a place to share opinions, but instead, it has become a process where directions and answers are predetermined and thoughts are forced to converge," adding, "It has become a kind of vote control process."