Candidate Replacement Fails as Party Member Vote Is Rejected
Kwon Youngse Apologizes and Resigns as Emergency Committee Chair
Calls Grow Within Party for Kwon Seongdong and Others to Step Down
The attempt by the People Power Party leadership to replace its presidential candidate with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo was rejected in a party member vote on May 10, restoring Kim Moonsu's official candidacy. While Kim has expressed his intention to build a "big tent" alliance against Lee Jaemyung, internal strife within the party is intensifying, with calls for the entire leadership to resign.
On the same day, the People Power Party announced after an emergency committee meeting at the National Assembly that the ARS vote of all party members to select Han as the new presidential candidate had failed. However, the party leadership did not disclose the specific results of the vote.
Kwon Youngse, the emergency committee chair, stated, "Ultimately, we failed to obtain the consent of party members for the candidate change," and added, "I sincerely apologize to party members and the public for the confusion caused by the procedures and process."
He explained, "Kim's status as the presidential candidate has been immediately restored, and his official registration will take place tomorrow."
He continued, "It is deeply regrettable that we failed to achieve unification, but I believe this is due to my own shortcomings," and announced his resignation as committee chair, saying, "I will take full responsibility and step down."
Kim, whose candidacy was restored, immediately issued a statement saying, "Justice has prevailed, and now everything will return to its rightful place." He went on to say, "I will immediately launch the election committee and establish a big tent to build an anti-Lee Jaemyung front," emphasizing, "I will unite with everyone who shares this cause."
Han Ducksoo's camp also released a statement, saying, "We humbly accept the will of the people and party members." They added, "We sincerely hope that candidate Kim Moonsu and the People Power Party will achieve victory in this presidential election."
After the candidate was confirmed, voices within and outside the party called for unity around Kim. Lawmaker Ahn Cheolsoo wrote on Facebook, "The early morning coup was decisively suppressed by the power of our great party members. Now we must unite around our candidate. I, Ahn Cheolsoo, will do everything in my power to stop Lee Jaemyung."
On the other hand, calls for the resignation of the leadership that led the candidate replacement are growing louder. Former party leader Han Donghoon criticized the leadership on Facebook, saying, "Everyone responsible for bringing the party to this state, regardless of their title, must immediately resign and take proper responsibility."
Sixteen pro-Han lawmakers also issued a statement, saying, "The resignation of only Kwon Youngse as emergency committee chair is not enough to fulfill responsibility," and called for the simultaneous resignation of Kwon Seongdong and the floor leadership who were deeply involved in this situation. They further emphasized, "Through these measures, we strongly urge the restoration of the party's democratic order, which has been thrown into disarray, and the rebuilding of a foundation for victory in the presidential election, now just 24 days away. Our party must swiftly reorganize and focus all efforts on the upcoming election."
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