The People Power Party has officially begun its party leadership race as it started registration for candidates for the Aug. 22 convention. The party leadership contenders are expected to compete divided into 'pro-impeachment' and 'anti-impeachment' factions concerning former President Yoon Suk-yeol, focusing on internal innovation and personnel renewal.
The People Power Party will accept applications for the registration of candidates for party chairman and supreme council members over two days starting from the 30th. Among the candidates, incumbent lawmakers Jo Gyeong-tae, Ahn Cheol-soo, Jang Dong-hyuk, and Joo Jin-woo are expected to run, along with former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo, former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, and former presidential office planning director Jang Seong-min.
Former Minister Kim and lawmakers Jo Gyeong-tae, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Joo Jin-woo registered as preliminary candidates on this day and initiated their active campaign. With about three weeks left in the campaigning period, they are quickly moving to capture both party opinion and public sentiment.
Former Minister Kim Moon-soo, a candidate from the anti-impeachment faction, visited the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, after registering as a candidate. This was to emphasize the U.S.-South Korea alliance by labeling the Lee Jae-myung government as 'anti-government.' Former Minister Kim, who was a presidential candidate for the People Power Party, has already begun solidifying his influence within the party by meeting with lawmaker Na Kyung-won the previous day.
After the visit, former Minister Kim met with reporters and said, 'The Lee Jae-myung government, which is promoting anti-U.S. sentiments, has yet to hold a meeting with President Trump, and neither the U.S. ambassador to South Korea has come nor has the South Korean ambassador to the U.S. been appointed.' He noted, 'I visited the war memorial to express my hope for continued development between the two countries through the U.S.-South Korea alliance.'
Lawmaker Jo Gyeong-tae, who was the first to declare his candidacy for the party convention, continues his regional activities. On this day, he met with Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and visited the Incheon Jung-gu party association to hold a meeting with party members. Additionally, he focused on solidifying local public sentiment by visiting Daegu, Busan, Namyangju, and Hanam.
Lawmaker Jo is advocating for the expulsion of the 45 legislators who gathered in front of the presidential residence during the Yoon administration, claiming a need for personnel cleansing. On channel A, he emphasized, 'It is a path for the People Power Party to perish if these 107 individuals, who are currently not taking responsibility or participating, remain.' He added, 'To truly save the People Power Party, we must prevent it from moving towards conservatism.'
Ahn Cheol-soo held a meeting with the 2030 generation at the National Assembly member office building on this day. Lawmaker Ahn is intensifying attacks against former Minister Kim, a prominent candidate from the anti-impeachment faction, while claiming a break from former President Yoon.
During a press conference announcing his candidacy the day before, Ahn said, 'Who is truly capable of protecting the People Power Party? Is it the candidate Kim Moon-soo, who is aligned with extremist forces?' He emphasized, 'I will innovate internally and confront the political rampage of Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party externally.'
On this day, Joo Jin-woo visited the central party office in Yeouido to register as a candidate and then attended a discussion on broadcasting laws held at the National Assembly. Lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk is sending out messages attacking the government via social media and is contacting fellow lawmakers.
The leadership competition in the People Power Party is likely to extend the ongoing 'innovation debate' within the party. In particular, there were differing opinions among contenders regarding participation in a YouTube debate hosted by Jeon Han-gil, a former Korean history lecturer supporting former President Yoon, and responding to public questionnaires.
Since former Minister Kim has raised the 'melting pot theory' emphasizing the need to join forces with the civic groups, he is contemplating his participation in YouTube and submission of responses. Meanwhile, lawmakers Jo Gyeong-tae, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Joo Jin-woo rejected the public questionnaire from Jeon, stating they see no reason to respond.
The People Power Party will hold its national convention in Cheongju, Chungbuk, on the 22nd of next month. Throughout the month, it will hold four joint briefing sessions in Daegu and Gyeongbuk on the 8th, Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam on the 12th, Chungcheong and Honam on the 13th, and in the metropolitan area, Gangwon, and Jeju on the 14th. If the number of candidates for party leader exceeds four, a preliminary election will narrow it down to four candidates, reflecting 50% each from party member voting and public opinion polls.
The final election will take place on the 20th and 21st of next month, based on the method of '80% party member voting and 20% public opinion polls.' The new party leader is expected to be announced at the national convention on the 22nd of the same month. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a runoff will be planned.