The polarization within the ruling party is deepening amid the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The gap is widening between the next candidates looking to run in an early election and the mainstream forces of the ruling party. While former representative Han Dong-hoon, lawmaker Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min are moving under the banner of expanding their base, the party leadership is responding to the demands of the hardline support base by meeting the imprisoned president and pressuring the judiciary.
Kwon Young-se, chairperson of the People Power Party's emergency committee, said on the 3rd regarding the failure of Acting President Choi Sang-mok to appoint the National Assembly-nominated Constitutional Court candidate Ma Eun-hyeok that, "It is appropriate to rule that the matter is inadmissible." On the same day, when the Constitutional Court postponed the ruling, he also issued a statement through the Spokesperson, saying, "The Constitutional Court itself has admitted procedural defects."
The People Power Party is also questioning the political inclinations of the Constitutional Court justices. The acting head of the Constitutional Court, Moon Hyung-bae, along with Justices Lee Mi-sun and Jeong Gye-sun, are from a progressive research group called "Our Law Research Society," leading to the argument that they are likely to favor the impeachment trial of President Yoon. Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader, referred to them as a "leftist political cabal" and urged them to submit a request for recusal.
At the leadership level, they paid a visit to President Yoon. The two top leaders of the People Power Party, Chairperson Kwon and Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong, met with President Yoon, who is currently imprisoned at the Seoul Detention Center. Veteran lawmaker Na Kyung-won also attended. During the meeting, President Yoon reportedly urged the three to "unite the party to create hope for the nation, including the youth of 2030." While they claimed the meeting was at a "personal level," many analysts interpret it as a move coordinated with the context of "politics behind bars."
Criticism of being "irresponsible" has emerged within the party as well. Lawmaker Kim Jae-seop, part of the People Power Party's youth faction "First Church," expressed on social media the day before, "Why is humanity being shown in this manner, and why now?" He added, "This will appear as the official stance of the People Power Party, and it looks irresponsible." Lawmaker Jo Kyung-tae, the longest-serving member (sixth term) in the party, also stated, "How can citizens view the actions of the chairperson of the non-regular committee and the floor leader as 'personal level' when they represent the party?" He criticized their actions as being out of touch with the sentiments of the majority of the public.
Amidst this, former representative Han is weighing the timing for his return. Observations from his close associates suggest it could be either the end of this month or early next month. The 26th of next month is the scheduled date for the decision on Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, regarding charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. If he receives a prison sentence in both the first and second trials, it would be a setback for Lee's presidential ambitions. The political community expects the Constitutional Court to issue its ruling on the presidential impeachment trial as early as March. This could provide an opportunity for former representative Han to rise as a viable alternative.
Recently, a YouTube channel called "Under 73 Studio" has been launched primarily by associates of the close faction. This name refers to individuals born in or after 1973, as former representative Han was born in 1973. It appears to embody the aspiration for a generational shift by replacing the current dominant political group, the so-called "586 generation" (those in their 50s, who graduated in the 1980s, and those born in the 1960s), with "younger politicians born in or after 1973."
Lawmaker Lee Jun-seok also announced his candidacy for the presidency, emphasizing generational change. He will turn 40 on March 30, qualifying him to run for president. The day before, he held a press conference near Hongdae Station, stating, "John F. Kennedy became a leader of the United States at the age of 43 and sent a person to the moon, while Bill Clinton, at 46, defeated sitting President George Bush, who led the victory in the Gulf War, and led a revival of the American economy centered on IT. Barack Obama, at 46, became the first Black president of the United States." He urged, "South Korea must also boldly pursue generational change and restructuring."