The People Power Party will change its party name, the party's signboard, for the first time in about six years. The plan is to switch to the new name to coincide with Independence Movement Day. The final candidates will be reported and discussed at the supreme council meeting on the 23rd, where the new name is expected to be decided.
According to the political sphere on the 20th, the leading candidates currently being discussed are Mirae Yeondae and Mirae Gonghwadang. In addition, names such as Minju Gonghwadang, Jayu Gonghwadang, Jayu Minjudang, and Hamkkehaneun Gonghwa are reportedly being mentioned as candidates.
A People Power Party official said, "The keyword for the name change is 'republic'," adding, "We believe 'republic' is the word that can properly express conservative values, and there is a high possibility it will be included in the party name." In the public contest for the new name, party names containing the word "republic" were said to be recommended the most. It is also said that the word "future" is being discussed together to emphasize a younger image.
The issue is the negative view in some quarters of the party name "Gonghwadang," or "Republican Party." Our Republican Party, created by Cho Won-jin, who left the Saenuri Party, and the Liberty Republican Party, formed by the merger of Our Republican Party and the Liberty Unification Party, are among the "Republican Parties" that have appeared in politics in recent years led by forces that style themselves as street conservatives. They are seen as standing shoulder to shoulder with the so-called "Yoon again" faction, such as opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
After the first-trial ruling for the former president, as internal conflict within the People Power Party over "cutting ties with Yoon (severing relations with the former president)" has intensified, many say it would be a burden to include "Republican Party" in the new name because it evokes "Yoon again." A People Power Party lawmaker with a constituency in the TK region said, "After visiting my district over the Lunar New Year holiday, I heard quite a bit that cutting ties with Yoon is necessary," adding, "There were also comments that the name Republican Party brings to mind Yoon again."
On the other hand, some say there is no reason to abandon the name Republican Party, which is like the root of conservative politics. In particular, there is talk that the party leadership, including leader Jang Dong-hyeok, prefers a name that includes Republican Party. A political insider said, "The new name will be decided after hearing the opinions of the leadership, including the supreme council members, over the weekend," adding, "To begin full-fledged preparations for the local elections, the new name needs to be finalized early next week."