People Power Party Stirs Over Calls for Yoon's Departure
Presidential Office Remains Silent
With 19 days remaining until the 6·3 presidential election, the emergency leadership system under Kim Yongtae has been launched for the People Power Party. After being nominated as the emergency committee chairman, he declared that he would "bring about a surprising level of change." The first issue he must address is the dilemma surrounding former President Yoon Sukyeol's party membership.
On May 15, the People Power Party held a National Committee meeting and passed the agenda to appoint Kim as the new emergency committee chairman. Out of 795 national committee members, 551 participated in the ARS vote (a turnout of 69.3%), with 491 voting in favor (an approval rate of 89.1%).
Kim Yongtae, Co-Chairman of the People Power Party's Joint Election Countermeasures Committee, is giving a greeting speech at the 21st Presidential Election Policy Proposal Delivery Ceremony of the Korea Teachers Union held at the Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul on May 15, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
The first task is to find a solution to the issue of former President Yoon's departure from the party. While this could be significant in terms of expanding the party's appeal to centrist voters, it also risks provoking the sentiments of the party's core supporters ahead of the presidential election. It remains to be seen whether Kim can reach a consensus on this matter with Kim Moonsu, the People Power Party's presidential candidate.
On this day, during an appearance on YTN Radio's "News Fighting," Kim addressed calls within the party to sever ties with former President Yoon, stating, "Many citizens are likely to pay attention to how the People Power Party crosses the river of impeachment this time," and added, "We will complete all the necessary processes to move past this within this week."
The presidential office has remained silent on the issue of former President Yoon's departure from the party. In effect, the presidential office is in a 'shutdown' state, having lost its authority and function, making it difficult to express any position. A senior official from the presidential office commented, "It has been a long time since we had any contact with former President Yoon," and added, "As far as I know, the issue of leaving the party is being led by the party itself."
Resolving internal conflicts within the party is also an issue that Kim needs to focus on. Currently, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo and former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon, both of whom were primary candidates, as well as former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who was Kim's unification counterpart, are not participating in the election campaign committee.
Whether Kim will play a role in efforts to unify with Lee Junseok, the candidate from the Reform Party, is also drawing attention. Kim was a member of the so-called "People Power Party Cheon-Ah-Yong-In" (Cheon Haram, Heo Euna, Kim Yongtae, Lee Kiin), who, along with Lee, ran for party leadership at the 2023 party convention.
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