People Power Party Faces Uncertainty and Fallout Over Leadership Reshuffle

Pro-Yoon Faction Seeks to Retain Party Leadership
Pro-Han Faction Pushes for Reform and New Leadership
Inevitable Internal Conflict Emerges Over Party Direction

After its defeat in the 21st presidential election, the People Power Party has found itself unable to see even a step ahead. An inevitable internal conflict is emerging between the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk-yeol) faction, which seeks to retain party leadership by emphasizing the need to keep the Lee Jaemyung administration in check, and the pro-Han (pro-Han Donghoon) faction, which is holding the leadership accountable for the election loss. The struggle to reorganize the current leadership structure is expected to mark the starting point of this power struggle.

According to political circles on June 4, the term of Kim Yongtae, the current Emergency Response Committee Chairman leading the People Power Party, runs until June 30, while the term of Kwon Seongdong, the party's floor leader, lasts until the end of the year. There is speculation that after Kwon steps down to take responsibility for the defeat, the party may either elect a new leader through a national convention or maintain the emergency committee system.

Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is making a serious expression while reviewing the exit poll results at the People Power Party's vote counting situation room for the 21st presidential election, set up in the National Assembly Library on June 3, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

The pro-Yoon faction, which currently holds party leadership, prefers to maintain the emergency committee system. They argue that holding a national convention would inevitably lead to intense internal conflict, so it would be better to elect a new leader after stabilizing the party. While there will be calls to hold the leadership accountable for the election loss, they believe the sense of crisis as a minority opposition party and a desire to keep the pro-Han faction in check will help maintain party unity. One two-term lawmaker from the People Power Party predicted, "Even just to counter the Lee Jaemyung administration, the pro-Yoon faction will try to unite tightly at the center."

On the other hand, within the pro-Han faction, there are strong calls to accelerate reform by launching a new leadership. On this day, former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon stated on social media, "The people have delivered a resolute order for the exit of 'illegal martial law' and 'old politics that defended the illegal martial law forces,'" adding, "This is the last chance to completely dismantle old politics and set politics right." The pro-Han faction believes that holding a national convention to elect new leadership before the current leadership's accountability fades would create a more favorable situation. Pro-Han lawmaker Han Jia urged, "The current leadership must resign without delay."

Despite the election defeat, there are variables that could complicate the party leadership structure. For one, presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo, who surpassed the 40% vote share threshold, may enter the leadership contest. However, given his weak base within the party, it is expected that he may align himself with the pro-Yoon faction. One People Power Party lawmaker commented, "Because there is such strong opposition to former leader Han Donghoon within the party, the pro-Yoon faction may join forces with other groups to push out the pro-Han faction." There is also speculation that former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo, who left the party, could play a role in the process of conservative realignment. A party official said, "It will be difficult for former mayor Hong to join the pro-Yoon faction, and if he tries to establish an independent force, he could face backlash, so he is likely to seek a different path."