Na Kyung-won Support Chairman 'In Myung-jin', Reform Image... People Power Party Leadership Race, Color Competition

Former Supreme Council Member Lee Jun-seok, Supported by Mayor Oh Se-hoon for a Young and Fresh Image
Assemblyman Joo Ho-young, Sponsored by Former Seoul National University President and Mentor Sung Nak-in from Yeongnam Region

Hwang Woo-yeo, the Election Commission Chairman of the People Power Party, attended the 1st party convention held on the 25th at Nurikkum Square in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and greeted former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who is running for party leader. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who is running for the leadership of the People Power Party, has appointed former Liberty Korea Party Emergency Committee Chairman In Myung-jin as the chairman of her support committee. While preparing for the Seoul mayoral primary last February, Na also recruited former Minister of Information and Communication under the Participatory Government Jin Dae-je as an advisor. This appears to be an effort to emphasize reform and break away from the image of a 'hardline conservative.'

According to the status of support committees for the People Power Party leadership and (youth) supreme council member primaries registered with the National Election Commission on the 25th, Na’s support committee opened an office near the National Assembly on the 22nd, with In as its representative.

A representative from Na’s side said, "Mr. In is an elder who has played a role in the party and aligns with Na’s message emphasizing reform and unity. We respectfully requested his participation, and he gladly accepted. Since the position of support committee chairman carries strong symbolic meaning, we considered it carefully."

In served as the secretary-general of the Urban Industrial Mission in the 1970s and 1980s, engaging in labor and democratization movements. In 1987, he was the spokesperson for the 'National Movement Headquarters for the Achievement of a Democratic Constitution.' However, from 2006 to 2008, he served as the ethics committee chairman of the Grand National Party, and from late 2016, he consecutively held positions as emergency committee chairman of the Saenuri Party and Liberty Korea Party, playing a leading role in reforming conservative parties.

One reason cited for Na’s loss to Mayor Oh Se-hoon in the Seoul mayoral primary was her 'hardline conservative' image. Recruiting former Minister Jin as the 'No. 1 expert advisor' ahead of the primary was also seen as an attempt to appeal a new image. Jin is known as a key figure in the 'semiconductor myth' at Samsung Electronics, served as Minister of Information and Communication under the Participatory Government, and ran for governor of Gyeonggi Province in 2006, losing to then Grand National Party candidate Kim Moon-soo.

Since change and reform are the main themes in this leadership election as well, the support of former emergency committee chairman In Myung-jin could be a considerable asset. Former supreme council member Lee Jun-seok is leading in various opinion polls, and on the 24th, Mayor Oh posted on Facebook a message titled 'Dreaming of a Pleasant Rebellion,' which was interpreted as an implicit endorsement of Lee.

Mayor Oh said, "I acknowledge that experience and wisdom are more important than anything else," adding, "However, this party leader has a historic mission as a supporter who must work in harmony with the presidential candidate to maximize synergy through mutual complementarity."

The frame of old versus new is intensifying, making it crucial for Na to demonstrate a changed image. The main point in the People Power Party leadership race is how each candidate presents their distinct color.

Of course, public sentiment and party sentiment may differ. Party members tend to have a relatively strong traditional conservative leaning. The People Power Party selects its leader through a preliminary primary where 'party members account for 50% and the general public 50% in opinion polls,' and a final primary where 'party members account for 70% and the general public 30% in opinion polls.'

Representative Joo Ho-young, from Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, and representing Daegu Suseong-gu Gap district, has shown a determination to confront the so-called 'Yeongnam Party frame,' calling it "regressive and ruinous regionalism."

The chairman of Joo’s support committee is former Seoul National University President Sung Nak-im, who is from Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, and taught at Yeungnam University for 20 years. A representative from Joo’s side said, "Former President Sung was Joo Ho-young’s mentor during his time at Yeungnam University Law School and has been supporting him for some time."

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