Lawmakers Kim Do-eup, Jeong Jeom-sik, and Seong Il-jong (in ballot order), who are running in the People Power Party's next floor leader election, took the stage for a debate before 25 first- and second-term lawmakers. Kim said the next general and presidential elections would be bleak unless the party changes its line, while Jeong stressed there must be no further splits. Seong said the party should expand the role of senior lawmakers and end factionalism.
On the afternoon of the 9th, first- and second-term lawmakers of the People Power Party held a meeting inviting floor leader candidates. Taking the first opening remarks, Kim said, "I have repeatedly called for a change in the party line, but we went into elections without change, and if this continues, the 28 general election and the 30 presidential election will be bleak."
Kim also drew a line from former President Yoon Suk-yeol. "Let's make this a party that does not get called a return to a pro-Yoon party," Kim said, adding, "If I become floor leader, I will change the party's character and image to lay the groundwork for an election victory."
Jeong, aligned with the party leadership, voiced a call for unity. "We failed to win the support of a majority of the public in the general, presidential, and local elections," Jeong said. "The conclusion of our agonizing over resignation or stabilization must not be yet another split among ourselves."
Jeong added, "The task is to rebuild the public's broken trust and unite our internal strength," and said, "We will ensure the recovery of public trust and achieve unity within the party."
Seong proposed strengthening the role of senior lawmakers and clearing out factions as a way to become a clear opposition party. "We should amend the party constitution and rules so that the first-place finisher becomes party leader and the second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers join the Supreme Council," he said. "The Supreme Council must earn the public's trust and create space where multi-term lawmakers can work so that the role of senior lawmakers can grow."
Seong also said, "To avoid being abandoned by the public, we must clear out factions," adding, "Even in my first term, we went through impeachment due to fights between pro-Lee and pro-Park factions." He added, "I have never belonged to any faction."
Immediately after the debate ended, lawmaker Park Seong-woong met with reporters about the question of Representative Jang Dong-hyeok's resignation and said, "Since the term ends in Aug. next year, there were no opinions calling for shortening the term or pressuring an early resignation," adding, "This is a matter for a dignified decision, and we agreed not to demand a hasty decision at all."
As for the issue of former leader Han Dong-hoon, who has been outside the party since being elected as an independent, joining the party, Park said, "We confirmed that all the candidates have no intention of pushing for an early entry," adding, "There was consensus that we should watch the situation for at least a year before making a judgment."