People Power Party Officially Announces Candidacy for Party Leader... Kicks Off Full-Scale Campaign

The People Power Party members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] The official declarations of candidacy for party leadership have begun within the People Power Party, which has been in turmoil due to a leadership vacuum. From this point, their movements toward the party convention are expected to become increasingly clear.

On the morning of the 23rd, Assemblyman Cho Hae-jin held a press conference at the National Assembly to announce his candidacy for the party leadership. He is the first among the leadership contenders to officially declare his bid.

Assemblyman Cho is a figure emphasizing broad opposition unity and candidate unification to achieve regime change next year. At the press conference, he stated, "We will make the People Power Party a large vessel that all governors and passionate citizens willing to join the cause of regime change will gladly participate in," adding, "To secure a sure victory in next year's presidential election, the broad opposition must not only serve as a platform for regime judgment but also gain the people's firm trust as a governing alternative force entrusted with the country's future."

Assemblyman Hong Moon-pyo's official declaration of candidacy is entering the final countdown. Having already unofficially expressed his intention to run for party leader several times, Hong explained in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "It has been about half a month since I set up the (election) office, but with the April 7 by-election and the heated intra-party floor leader election, I have been waiting day by day, feeling a bit hesitant about announcing my run for party leader."

Assemblyman Yoon Young-seok also plans to hold a press conference around May 2-3 to officially announce his candidacy for party leader. Yoon said, "It is certain that I will run for party leader, but since the party leader election will intensify after the floor leader election, I am thinking of making the announcement in early May."

First-term Assemblyman Kim Woong plans to make an official declaration once the party convention schedule is set. At the Mapo Forum the day before, Kim said, "I think it is better to run after making concrete plans and organizing a team," adding, "I have heard many opinions that if I act impulsively as a first-term member, it could be misunderstood, so I need to prepare thoroughly before running."

Joo Ho-young, the acting party leader and a likely candidate for the next party leadership, drew a clear line during a meeting with reporters after the emergency committee meeting that day, saying, "While I am floor leader, I am not thinking about anything else besides fulfilling my duties." However, earlier that morning, he participated in a joint declaration urging Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo's resignation in front of the Supreme Court along with Assemblymen Kwon Seong-dong, Kim Ki-hyun, and Bae Hyun-jin, which is being interpreted as a move to protect the so-called 'conservative support base' and a step toward running for party leader.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.