Kim and Jang Advance to Final Round for Party Leader
Final Winner to Be Announced on the 26th;
Clear Stance Competition Expected
Shin Dongwook, Kim Minsu, Kim Jaewon Elected to Supreme Council
Anti-Impeachment Faction Prevails Amid Party Survival Crisis
In the People Power Party's leadership election, Kim Moonsoo, former Minister of Employment and Labor, and Assemblyman Jang Donghyuk, both candidates opposed to the impeachment, have advanced to the runoff. In the Supreme Council election, candidates Shin Dongwook, Kim Minsu, and Kim Jaewon were elected, resulting in the anti-impeachment faction securing a majority. As the party faces a heightened sense of crisis over its very existence, analysts believe that party members have chosen to strengthen internal unity and confront the ruling party, rather than pursue change.
The People Power Party's Election Management Committee announced on August 22 at the 6th National Convention held in Osco, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, that Kim Moonsoo and Jang Donghyuk were selected as the finalists based on the results of party member voting (80%) and a general public opinion poll (20%). As no candidate secured a majority, the top two candidates will face off in a runoff. The rankings and vote percentages were not disclosed.
Regarding his advancement to the runoff, Kim Moonsoo stated, "The Lee Jaemyung administration has raided our party headquarters twice in an attempt to seize the party membership list and is trying to dissolve the People Power Party. In these grave times, we must protect the party together." Jang Donghyuk remarked, "The very fact that I am standing on the runoff stage is a miracle. It is not the old organization, but the passionate hearts of party members coming together that has created this miracle."
In the Supreme Council election, Shin Dongwook, Kim Minsu, Yang Hyangja, and Kim Jaewon were elected. For the Youth Supreme Councilor, Woo Jaejun, who is aligned with the pro-Han Donghoon faction, was selected. As a result, among the five Supreme Council members, the anti-impeachment faction (Shin Dongwook, Kim Minsu, Kim Jaewon) holds the majority.
With the new leadership lineup, the anti-impeachment faction maintained its dominance, with no surprises. Observers attribute this outcome to the sense of crisis among party members, stemming from the Democratic Party's warnings about dissolving the party and the special prosecutor's attempts to raid party headquarters. A People Power Party official explained, "As resistance to the Lee Jaemyung administration and the Democratic Party grows, party members seem to believe that internal unity is essential."
The competition for clarity of stance is expected to intensify in the runoff. On this day, both candidates appealed for support by emphasizing their ability to confront the ruling party. Kim Moonsoo pledged to make the party a strong opposition force. He stressed, "The party leader who will fight and win, the party leader who will protect party members, the party leader who will defeat Lee Jaemyung's dictatorship is Kim Moonsoo." Jang Donghyuk advocated for 'new methods of struggle.' He stated, "Is it the old way of fighting or a new way? The past or the future? Stability or innovation? Will the party continue with division, or will it unite in a single line by removing internal dissenters? Choosing Jang Donghyuk is choosing innovation and the future for the People Power Party."
The strategic differences between the two candidates regarding internal unity are also a key point of interest. Kim Moonsoo argues that even those in the pro-impeachment faction or the pro-Han Donghoon camp, who advocate for personnel reform, should be embraced. Regarding his former rivals, Assemblymen Ahn Cheolsoo and Cho Kyungtae, and their supporters, Kim said, "I believe these people are necessary for the party. Cutting them off as if removing cancer cells is not democratic." In contrast, Jang Donghyuk targeted the pro-impeachment faction, stating that those who agree with the Democratic Party's accusations of 'insurrection' and 'far-right tendencies' should be expelled. He said, "To fulfill the role of the opposition, we need a unified front. Rather than vague unity that includes even those who undermine the party from within, we need a single line of people who can move forward together. We cannot move forward with those who claim the insurrection is not over and continue to say the party is complicit, putting the party at risk."
With the runoff vote set to take place, the two candidates will hold their final TV debate on August 23. The People Power Party will then conduct mobile and ARS voting for party members and a public opinion poll from August 24 to 25. As in the main election, the runoff results will reflect 80% from party member votes and 20% from the public opinion poll. The final results are scheduled to be announced on the morning of August 26.
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