'People Power Party' Engulfed in Severe Internal Conflict Ahead of Presidential Candidate Debate

The Essence of Conflict: Lee Jun-seok and Yoon Seok-yeol Dispute
People Power Party Holds Long Private Supreme Council Meeting Amid Deliberation

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Jun-i] Internal conflicts within the People Power Party are intensifying over the debate hosted by the Primary Preparation Committee. Doubts about the fairness of the primary management by Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, are also growing. The core of the conflict appears to be a power struggle between the party leader and a leading presidential candidate.

The People Power Party's Supreme Council meeting held on the morning of the 17th was dominated by this internal atmosphere, creating a tense mood. Lee Jun-seok unusually skipped his public remarks, saying, "There are no special opening remarks." Supreme Council members Cho Soo-jin and Kim Jae-won, who have been in conflict with Lee over the debate hosted by the Primary Preparation Committee, also refrained from public comments. While Lee has insisted that if not a debate, at least a presentation should be held, the two council members opposed the debate, arguing that the Primary Preparation Committee had overstepped its authority. The Supreme Council continued a closed meeting with only council members present, as key party officials were absent.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

For now, regarding the debate, Lee is pushing a compromise plan proposed by floor leader Kim Ki-hyun. The compromise suggests holding a presentation to introduce the candidates' visions instead of a debate. Although opportunities for mutual verification among candidates would be limited, the intention is to preserve the Primary Preparation Committee's dignity. Initially, the committee planned to hold two candidate debates on the 18th and 25th. However, there have been criticisms that the Primary Preparation Committee, which is not an election management committee, does not have the authority to hold debates, and that many candidates have not yet registered as People Power Party presidential pre-candidates. Currently, regarding the committee-hosted debates, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong are reportedly considering boycotting by not attending working meetings.

The problem is that this conflict goes beyond a mere procedural dispute over holding debates. Fundamentally, there is a widespread perception that Lee is trying to check Yoon, the party's number one candidate. Interpretations vary, from the view that Lee is positioning himself with former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min or Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in mind, to analyses that he is engaging in a power struggle with Yoon. Using the debate as a pretext, a battle for leadership between a leading candidate and the party leader is unfolding in the upcoming primary phase.

On the morning of the same day, Supreme Council member Kim said in a radio interview, "I spoke with former Governor Won, who confirmed that Lee did say 'Yoon will be settled soon,' which is an undeniable fact," adding, "Lee uses a phone that automatically records calls, so there should be a recording file." Former Governor Won also told reporters, "The phrase that a particular candidate will be settled does not mean the conflict will be resolved, but that the candidate's viability is diminishing."

There are strong calls for the early establishment of the election management committee, but the wild card is who will chair it. It is known that Lee hopes for Assemblyman Seo Byung-soo to take charge of both the Primary Preparation Committee and the election management committee. On the other hand, Supreme Council members who have opposed the Primary Preparation Committee have great distrust toward Assemblyman Seo.

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