The approval rating of the People Power Party among the moderate electorate is declining, but the party leadership is seen to be solely focused on 'attacking Lee Jae-myung.' There are concerns that there is no visible strategy to capture moderate public sentiment.
Recently, the support for the People Power Party among moderate voters has stagnated or declined. According to a survey conducted by Korea Gallup from 18th to 20th for 1,002 voters aged 18 and older nationwide, the People Power Party recorded 34%, while the Democratic Party recorded 40%. The support rates for the two parties diverged significantly among moderates. Among moderate voters, 42% supported the Democratic Party, while only 22% supported the People Power Party, a 20% difference. This widened by 15 percentage points compared to last week's survey, which was 37% to 32%.
In this context, Representative Lee recently declared a 'moderate conservative party.' Such a gamble has caused a stir in the political realm. The People Power Party criticized, saying, "Political fraud of 'seeing two paths' (Kweon Seong-dong)," and "How can the Democratic Party, which just watches the strong aristocratic union, disguise itself as a moderate conservative party? (Kim Sang-hoon, policy chair)"
Prominent figures within the ruling party also sharply criticized, stating, "The Democratic Party of Lee Jae-myung welcomes moderate conservatives (Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul)," and "If the Democratic Party of Lee Jae-myung is a moderate conservative party, then Paris is also new (Ahn Cheol-soo, member of the People Power Party)." Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong captured a post titled 'Lee Jae-myung does not do moderate cosplay' written by Representative Lee in 2016, pointing out his 'flip-flopping.'
However, there are analyses suggesting that Representative Lee's 'rightward move' is proving effective in appealing to moderates according to public opinion survey results.
Representative Lee is focusing on moderates not only in messaging but also in policy. In addition to raising the personal exemption limit in inheritance tax reform, he is also promoting reforms in the earned income tax that would raise tax thresholds annually by the inflation rate.
'Coalition in favor of impeachment' is also seen as a card in preparation for an early presidential election. Jeong Seong-ho, a key member of the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction of the Democratic Party, recently mentioned Lee Jun-seok, a reformist member, and Han Dong-hoon, a former leader of the People Power Party, hinting at the possibility of a 'grand coalition of moderate conservatives.' Regardless of whether it materializes, it was aimed at embracing moderate conservative figures whose activities within the People Power Party are constrained.
On the other hand, there are points being raised that the People Power Party is effectively neglecting its 'moderate support strategy.' Kwon Young-se, the emergency response committee chair of the People Power Party, stated at his first press briefing after assuming office on the 6th that he would work on the party's renewal. However, since then, the leadership's messaging has focused more on criticizing the constitutionality of the Constitutional Court rather than on renewing the party, or is centered around 'attacking Lee Jae-myung.' The party is also maintaining the position that they do not agree with the voices inside and outside the party calling for a formal distancing from President Yoon.
Both the messaging and the strategy for moderate expansion appear to be virtually absent at present. Within the party, the special committee for strategic planning is operational for 'external expansion' and party renewal, but no substantial strategies or policy measures have emerged. They are merely conducting a series of 'party reform seminars' to listen to the opinions of conservative elders, experts, and people outside the party, and have commenced work to amend party regulations related to strengthening the party's capabilities.
There are also analyses that the People Power Party's passive stance on moderate expansion stems from a complacent perception of reality within the party. A party leadership source responded to the assertion that a moderate support strategy is needed by asking, "Isn't the approval rating showing? Has the moderate public sentiment turned?"
The party's strategic planning special committee announced on the 21st that it would prepare a report on political response strategies assuming the dismissal of President Yoon's impeachment. However, Commissioner Jo Jeong-hun of the committee stated that they are not preparing citation scenarios.
However, voices are being raised that the People Power Party should prepare a Plan B in anticipation of the possibility of impeachment. On the 20th at a seminar of the party's strategic planning special committee, Shin Yul, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Myongji University, emphasized that since an early presidential election is likely, they should work on transforming the image against impeachment and strategies to secure moderate support during the early election phase. Park Eun-sik, chair of the People Power Party's Gwangju Dongnam district, suggested that it is necessary to actively embrace moderate individuals to restore support levels comparable to the DJP coalition (the agreement to form a coalition cabinet between Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-pil). He emphasized the need to regain traditional support that has strayed due to issues like healthcare reform and the Chae Sang-byeong incident since the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
On this day, Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader, spoke with reporters and responded to the question, "Do you think the People Power Party is making efforts to secure moderate support?" by stating, "In the end, the fluctuation of moderate voter sentiments depends on which party's argument is more rational and cares for the people and livelihood," adding, "We are making more efforts to reach out to moderates than the Democratic Party, both in terms of policy and vision."
* This opinion poll was conducted through interviews with randomly selected wireless phone virtual numbers. The response rate was 14.1%, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For more details, refer to the National Election Opinion Survey Deliberation Committee or the Korea Gallup website.