"At Least 10 Candidates Expected"... Why Are More People Running for the People Power Party Presidential Nomination? [Political Spotlight]

At Least 10 Throw Their Hats Into the Presidential Ring
Diverse Interests Lead to a Crowded Field
No Clear Frontrunner, Fierce Competition Emerges
Aiming for Future Party Leadership and Local Elections

Amid the early presidential election phase triggered by the June 3 announcement, it has been revealed that more than 10 individuals within the People Power Party have either declared their candidacy or are seriously considering running for president. The declarations are continuing, mixed with the understanding that merely challenging for the presidency can be advantageously leveraged for the next party leadership.

According to political circles on the 11th, nine people from the People Power Party have declared or announced their intention to run for president: Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo, former Saenuri Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) leader Lee Jung-hyun, former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Lee Cheol-woo, Mayor of Incheon Yoo Jeong-bok, former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, Assemblywoman Na Kyung-won, Mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon, and Mayor of Daegu Hong Joon-pyo. In addition, Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Mayor of Daejeon Lee Jang-woo, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Kyung-hwan, Assemblyman Yoon Sang-hyun, and former Assemblyman Yoo Seung-min are also known to be seriously considering running for president.

Even when combined with the Democratic Party candidates?former leader Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Kim Dong-yeon, former Assemblyman Kim Du-kwan, and former Governor of Gyeongnam Kim Kyung-soo who is contemplating running?as well as the Reform New Party (1 person) which nominated Assemblyman Lee Jun-seok as its presidential candidate, and the New Future Democratic Party (1 person) with former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon considering a run, the People Power Party candidates are more than twice as many.

Political circles cite the 'lack of strong leadership' as the reason for the ongoing presidential challenge frenzy within the People Power Party. In the case of the Democratic Party, former President Yoon Seok-youl, who won the 20th presidential election, had the smallest margin of victory in history (247,077 votes difference), and former leader Lee held party leadership for three years. In contrast, the People Power Party has experienced frequent leadership changes, lacks figures who have steadily built their standing within the party, and has lost its rallying point due to the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-youl.

Because of this, the party views this presidential primary as an opportunity to challenge. In fact, since the impeachment phase of former President Yoon, former leader Lee has shown support rates in the 30-40% range in opinion polls, while except for former Minister Kim Moon-soo who has support in the 10% range, no other candidate has recorded double-digit support rates. There is also a calculation that if a candidate breaks through the party primary and advances to the general election, facing off between the pro-progressive, pro-Lee Jae-myung public opinion and the pro-conservative, anti-Lee Jae-myung public opinion, there is a chance of winning.

Some also intend to raise their profile during the early presidential election process to run for the next party leadership or as metropolitan government heads in next year's local elections. Political commentator Park Sang-byeong said, "The People Power Party currently lacks both party leadership and a strong presidential candidate," adding, "Since the leadership shows no reflection on the emergency martial law and impeachment, many candidates with differing opinions and interests are emerging."

Within the party, concerns are also emerging that the number of candidates has gone too far. A senior People Power Party lawmaker who has not yet declared support for any candidate said, "From the voters' perspective, having too many candidates can reduce focus and interest in the primary," and analyzed, "In the absence of a strong rival, the party's decision to set a short period from candidate registration to the first cut-off is also reflective of these concerns." The People Power Party's Election Commission and leadership plan to accept candidate applications on the 14th and 15th, and then narrow the field to only four candidates in the first cut-off on the 22nd, which is interpreted as a method to increase attention.