'Gyeongjunwi or Choegowi'... Internal Conflict Ahead of People Power Party Primary Start

Yoo Seung-min's Side: "Trying to Neutralize at the Supreme Council"
Won Hee-ryong: "Kyungjunwi's Arbitrary Decision"

Former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan, chief of the comprehensive situation room for People Power Party presidential primary candidate Yoo Seung-min's campaign, and lawmaker Kim Woong (left) expressed concerns about the authority and role of the People Power Party's presidential primary preparation committee at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 11th. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As the presidential primary approaches, conflicts continue between the party leadership and presidential candidates within the People Power Party over the authority of the Primary Preparation Committee and the hosting of debates. There are opposing views on whether the Primary Preparation Committee holds the authority to decide the schedule and format of the primary or if the final approval must go through the Supreme Council.

On the morning of the 11th, Representative Kim Woong and former Representative Oh Shin-hwan from former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min’s presidential campaign held a press conference at the National Assembly, raising concerns that "the intention to overturn decisions made by the Primary Preparation Committee at the Supreme Council like flipping a hand is undesirable."

They added, "The Primary Preparation Committee is an independent body established under the party constitution and has already reviewed opinions by inviting experts twice," and criticized, "As Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member, has repeatedly mentioned on broadcasts and revealed on social media, he has expressed an intention to nullify the committee’s decisions at the Supreme Council, which makes the establishment of the Primary Preparation Committee unnecessary."

Earlier, People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok also expressed a similar stance on Facebook the previous day, stating, "I hope candidates refrain from making unreasonable remarks about the Primary Preparation Committee, which is entrusted by the leadership with authority over primary planning excluding the primary rules, as it is working hard to ensure fair management and excitement of the primary."

On the other hand, there are claims that the Primary Preparation Committee was formed only as a 'preparatory' measure before the primary began, and that the final decision-making authority lies with the Supreme Council. On the same day, Supreme Council member Kim appeared on TBS radio’s 'Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory' and said, "We were told to prepare for the primary, but once preparation is complete, a report should be made quickly and a resolution should be passed by the Supreme Council," adding, "Joint debates or TV debates fall under the authority of the Election Commission according to party rules," indicating that the Primary Preparation Committee does not have the authority to decide on hosting debates.

Former Jeju Governor and presidential candidate Won Hee-ryong also criticized the Primary Preparation Committee’s decisions as 'arbitrary.' Through Facebook on the same day, he pointed out, "The Primary Preparation Committee’s arbitrariness has crossed the line," and "The committee unilaterally announced the primary schedule and format, which is unacceptable."

He further urged, "The highest decision-making body of our party on this matter is the Supreme Council," and "I hope the Supreme Council will thoroughly discuss and decide on the primary schedule, format, and programs, including candidate debates." He also addressed Leader Lee, saying, "The party leader’s role is not to referee the primary," and "I hope the party leader will now focus on forming an Election Commission to fairly manage the primary."

Meanwhile, as opinions diverge over the authority of the Primary Preparation Committee, heated debates have also arisen over whether to hold the debate scheduled for the 18th, which was decided by the committee. However, regarding this, 'recruited candidates' former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung stated that they have not been notified. After a meeting with re-elected People Power Party lawmakers at the National Assembly, former Prosecutor General Yoon told reporters, when asked if he plans to attend the Primary Preparation Committee’s preliminary policy debate, "I have not heard anything from my campaign staff yet. I don’t think there has been an official request from the party," adding, "If an official request comes and the campaign discusses it, I will actively consider it."

In contrast, former Chairman Choi expressed a 'positive consideration' stance. After finishing a lecture invited by the party’s first-term lawmakers’ study group 'Myeongbulheojeon Bosuda,' he told reporters, "Although I have not been officially notified about the debate, if a notification comes, I will consider it positively."

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