People Power Party to Reflect 50% Each of Party Members' Votes and Public Opinion in Preliminary Primary

Four Candidates to Advance from Preliminary Primary

The People Power Party has decided that, in the preliminary primary to select its next party leader, the results will be based equally on votes from dues-paying party members and public opinion polls, with each accounting for 50%.

Seo Jiyeong, a member of the National Election Commission and head of the Speech and Debate Planning Subcommittee, announced this decision to reporters on July 23 after a meeting of the commission.

Previously, the preliminary primary was based 100% on votes from dues-paying party members. The new rule significantly increases the weight given to public opinion polls.

Yonhap News Agency

The commission has decided that if there are more than four candidates for party leader, a preliminary primary will be held to narrow the field to four. Currently, six people have declared their candidacy for party leader: former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moonsoo, as well as lawmakers Ahn Cheolsoo, Jang Donghyuk, Cho Kyungtae, Joo Jinwoo, and former lawmaker Yang Hyangja.

If there are more than eight candidates for Supreme Council member, a preliminary primary will reduce the field to eight. For Youth Supreme Council member, the number of candidates will be reduced to four through a preliminary primary. In the case of Youth Supreme Council member, only dues-paying party members under the age of 45 will be eligible to vote in the preliminary primary.

Party leader candidates must pay a deposit of 40 million won for both the preliminary and main primaries. Supreme Council candidates must pay 20 million won each, and Youth Supreme Council candidates must pay 5 million won each. However, candidates under the age of 45 running for party leader or Supreme Council member will receive a 50% reduction in the deposit.

Joint campaign speeches will be held four times, divided by region.