Gapje Cho Criticizes People Power Party as "Yoon Again Party"
Gapje Cho, a prominent conservative commentator and CEO of Jokapje.com, recently advised that if the reform efforts led by Representative Chulsoo Ahn within the People Power Party were blocked by the party's mainstream faction, Ahn should "declare self-destruction." This advice quickly became reality. Shortly after Cho's remarks were made on a radio broadcast, Representative Ahn resigned as chairman of the Reform Committee, stating that the party's Emergency Response Committee had approved a list of reform committee members without his agreement.
On July 7, appearing on SBS Radio's "Kim Taehyun's Political Show," Cho criticized the People Power Party for failing to engage in self-reflection and renewal during the month following its presidential election defeat. He remarked that the party had "become the Yoon Again Party," pointing out that the three key party positions?floor leader Eonseok Song, secretary general Jeomshik Jung, and policy committee chair Jeongjae Kim?were all filled by pro-Yoon Suk-yeol figures, signaling a return to a pro-Yoon party.
Regarding the current party leadership, Cho said, "They share exactly two things in common: defending martial law and embracing conspiracy theories about election fraud." He added, "They have never properly apologized for either stance, yet they are banding together to protect their vested interests. The public is not foolish," he criticized.
Cho emphasized that a purge of personnel within the party must precede any reform of the People Power Party. He went so far as to use the term "blacklist," arguing that the "Ahn Chulsoo Reform Committee" should lead such an effort. As for the criteria for this purge, he identified "first, those who supported martial law, and second, those who embraced election fraud conspiracy theories."
In particular, Cho mentioned the existence of an "under real Yoon" faction within the People Power Party?a group of core pro-Yoon Suk-yeol insiders who are not publicly visible. He explained, "There are 20 real power brokers within the People Power Party. They are the ones who control the party," adding, "Most of them seem to be from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, and they are truly formidable. Yet their names are not well known." He concluded, "In this situation, Representative Ahn should declare self-destruction."
Meanwhile, on the morning of July 7, Representative Ahn resigned as chairman of the Reform Committee, stating, "I refuse to accept a reform committee that was railroaded without consultation." Thus, Cho's advice was immediately realized. Ahn explained that he had proposed a "personnel reform plan" to the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee, but after receiving a response that the committee would not accept it, he decided to step down as chairman of the Reform Committee.
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