After 17 Days, Former Board of Audit Chairman Choi Jae-hyung Joins People Power Party as a Rank-and-File Member

Contrasting with Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's Approach of 'Speed Battle'
"Beyond Personal Gains, Moving Faster with Those Who Share the Same Intent"

On the 15th, at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung completed the party admission procedure using a smartphone and is showing the smartphone screen together with Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party. Photo by Geum Bo-ryeong

[Asia Economy Reporters Park Cheol-eung and Geum Bo-ryeong] Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung made a sudden entry into the People Power Party on the 15th. This decision came 17 days after his resignation from the Board of Audit and Inspection on the 28th of last month. It contrasts with former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's delayed party entry, representing a 'speed race' move.

On the day, Choi visited the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, and expressed his intention to join during a meeting with Representative Lee Jun-seok. He immediately took out his smartphone and submitted an online party membership application form. Representative Lee assisted with this process. Choi joined as a regular member.

After the meeting, Choi told reporters, "Putting aside personal gains or losses, I judged that it is important to meet more quickly with those who share my intentions and make efforts to design and build the future of our country together." He added, "People may have opinions about this rapid move, but it was with such thoughts that I decided to join the party."

Choi further stated, "Above all, in this reality where the entire nation is suffering, I judged that the center to achieve regime change, the most important proposition, must be the People Power Party, the main opposition party." He emphasized, "It is more important than anything else to create a country where young people, whose future seems bleak, can now live with hope."

Regarding the People Power Party, he said, "I am well aware that many citizens feel regret. However, since Representative Lee took office, he has made many efforts for new changes and has received much public support. I will continue to contribute my small strength to these changes and reforms and repay the people with good politics." When asked about the timing of registering as a presidential primary candidate for the People Power Party, he said, "I have not decided yet," and added, "Today is just the day I join as a regular member."

The People Power Party is highly encouraged by Choi's decision to join. Representative Lee expressed "infinite gratitude and welcome," saying, "As Choi mentioned, we will surely achieve regime change with strategies and policies that embrace the lives of the younger generation and our people." Kwon Young-se, Chairman of External Cooperation, who met with Choi the previous day to discuss party entry, also welcomed it as "a very excellent decision." Immediately after the meeting, the People Power Party held a welcoming ceremony for Choi's entry, attended by Representative Lee and the party leadership.

Choi has already begun preparations to declare his presidential candidacy. A representative from Choi's side said, "We are drafting the framework of the declaration," adding, "It will mainly include the path South Korea should take in diplomacy and security, and domestically, content about marginalized people and struggling youth rising again with dreams and hope."

With former Prosecutor General Yoon's approval ratings declining, attention is focused on whether Choi can become a new alternative in the conservative opposition. Kim Young-woo, former Future United Party lawmaker and head of Choi's campaign situation room, said on KBS radio the previous day, "There was a concentration of support for former Prosecutor General Yoon, but it was temporary, and now it seems highly likely that 'the trend is moving toward Choi Jae-hyung.'"

Regarding the possibility of unification with former Prosecutor General Yoon, he responded negatively, saying, "Discussing unification based solely on approval ratings is old-fashioned, outdated politics."

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