"Experience Needed" vs "Need for Change": Power Struggle Between Senior and Rookie Members of the People Power Party

Former Floor Leader Joo Ho-young: "The Leader Should Be Someone Who Has Experienced the 'Mid-Mountain'"
"Historically, the Unified Side Wins Elections... I Am the Right Person for Integration and Coordination"
First-Term Kim Woong: "Only New Figures Can Embody Hope for a New Era"
"We Must Empathize with the Pain at the Lowest Level," Leading the 'Reform Theory'

Joo Ho-young, former floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the regular seminar "Into a Better World" held at Mapo Forum in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 13th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The power struggle between senior and first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party (PPP) ahead of the next party leadership election is intensifying. Joo Ho-young, a five-term former floor leader, emphasized that "the ability to unify opposition candidates" is necessary to lead the presidential election, while first-term lawmakers advocated for reform, saying "change is necessary to win."

On the 13th, former floor leader Joo attended the Mapo Forum, which included current and former PPP lawmakers, and stated, "Historically, the side that unified has won," adding, "I am the most suitable person for (opposition) unification, and I believe I have slightly more aptitude for unification and coordination than others." This was interpreted as emphasizing the need for the experience of senior lawmakers to lead a party encompassing the entire opposition.

Regarding former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, he said, "We have a connection from working together in Daegu, and I once gave him a ride from the KTX to the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office," adding, "I have confirmed in several places that he is willing to join (the PPP). I will facilitate his party membership in the shortest time."

On the issue of merging with the People Party, he predicted, "If I become party leader, I will achieve a merger with the People Party as soon as possible," and "Once the merger is completed, others outside the party will inevitably join the unified open platform."

Former floor leader Joo also emphasized experience during an appearance on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 11th. When the host asked about the noticeable rise of first-term lawmakers, Joo replied, "Someone who has climbed 'mid-level mountains' like Seoraksan and Jirisan should lead the expedition," adding, "If you only climb the local hills, you cannot ascend Everest."

Kim Woong, a first-term lawmaker of the People Power Party, is declaring his candidacy for the party leader election at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 13th. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party who have declared their candidacy for the next party leadership election responded with calls for reform.

Kim Woong, who announced his candidacy on the 13th at a National Assembly press conference, emphasized, "Only new figures can embody the hope of a new era," and said, "I am challenging the party leadership despite being a first-term lawmaker because I am not entrenched in the existing political formulas of Yeouido. Change is necessary to win."

Regarding the policy direction the PPP should take, Kim explained, "The places we must go are the sites where workers have died crushed by steel plates, the empty stores with rental flyers fluttering, and convenience stores where people have a meal with triangular kimbap while waiting for a delivery call," adding, "We must empathize with the pain of the lowest places. That is conservatism, and that practice is true change."

Kim also revealed measures to inject new blood into the party, including △ a 30% quota for youth nominations, △ a 10 billion won fund for nurturing young politicians, and △ a 100% national primary for the presidential nomination.

Lee Jun-seok, former Supreme Council member of the Future United Party (now People Power Party), who recently declared his candidacy for party leader, also stressed that winning the support of voters in their 20s and 30s is essential for victory in the upcoming presidential election.

In an interview with YTN on the 10th, Lee said, "In the April 7 by-elections, the younger generation newly joined our party as supporters," adding, "We must ensure that their support is not temporary but that they develop a lasting affinity for our party."

Regarding his decision to run for party leader, he explained, "Although many excellent senior candidates are running in this party convention, I thought that the candidate pool alone was insufficient," and added, "I will participate and help."

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