Landslide Victory for People Power Party 'Beaming Smiles' vs Crushing Defeat for Democratic Party, Whirlwind of Reform

People Power Party: "A Whip from Public Sentiment to Do Better"
Democratic Party Faces Intense Calls for Reform... Voices Urging Unity Also Emerge

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok, Gu Chae-eun, Kwon Hyun-ji] The People Power Party was busy managing their expressions after a complete victory in the June 1 local elections following the presidential election. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, was plunged into deep concern, preparing follow-up measures with a somber mood after the election defeat.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On that day, the leadership of the People Power Party could not hide their joy, smiling brightly and shaking hands during the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning. Representative Lee Jun-seok said at the meeting, "I am grateful to the people who supported and trusted us to take charge of a significant part of local administration," and Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong also said, "I sincerely thank the people who completed the regime change with a landslide victory in the local elections." Later, during a closed-door meeting, loud laughter and applause were heard from outside the meeting room several times.

At the same time, they repeatedly emphasized 'humility' and lowered their stance. Floor Leader Kwon said, "The public is watching our party with sharp eyes," adding, "The results of this local election are not because our party did well, but a whip from the public urging us to do better. We will approach with a more humble and low posture." Representative Lee also said, "The Democratic Party was intoxicated by the great achievement of 180 seats in the general election two years ago and ran a one-sided solo run, but the opposite result came out in two years," and added, "We will work based on the lesson to work humbly, looking only at the people."

Yoon Ho-jung, Co-Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is entering the party leader's office at the National Assembly on the 2nd to attend a closed emergency response committee meeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

He also revealed plans to establish an 'Innovation Committee' for this purpose. After the Supreme Council meeting, Representative Lee told reporters, "Although we won the local elections, there are parts that need more reform and effort," and said, "As the ruling party and as a party whose membership increased from 200,000 to 800,000 in one year, we decided to launch an Innovation Committee to make party democracy more efficient and aim for party reform." Representative Choi Jae-hyung will serve as the Innovation Committee chairman, and the committee members will be composed based on recommendations from the Supreme Council members.

Representative Lee emphasized, "This is not a matter that can be solved by just announcing the relinquishment of privileges to produce gossip issues," and added, "The Innovation Committee must produce results, not be a show."

The Democratic Party’s emergency response committee, established after the presidential election defeat, is also facing a collapse crisis. On that day, the Democratic Party held an emergency committee meeting at the National Assembly to discuss follow-up measures after the election defeat.

Yoon Ho-jung, co-chairman of the Democratic Party’s emergency response committee, briefly evaluated in a meeting with reporters on his way to work, saying, "I think the public evaluated us for not showing more innovation and a new image." Co-chairman Park Ji-hyun also said, "We are responsible for not showing the party’s proper innovation."

It was reported that the emergency committee members expressed their stance on follow-up measures during the meeting. With the emergency committee, which was a measure to recover after the presidential election defeat, dissolving due to the local election defeat, an early party convention is being anticipated.

Within the Democratic Party, voices calling for strong reform continued. Especially, criticism poured down on Lee Jae-myung, who was the candidate for the Incheon Gyeyang-eul parliamentary by-election and the overall election committee chairman of the Democratic Party after the presidential election defeat.

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon pointed out via social media, "Even after losing the presidential election, they held the local elections as if nothing happened and lost again," adding, "The accumulation of defeats and strange responses to them have deepened the Democratic Party’s illness." Regarding the last presidential election, Lee said, "Not taking responsibility and blaming others is probably the most tiresome political behavior for the people," and added, "The Democratic Party kept doing that," and urged, "Now the Democratic Party seems to be forming another temporary leadership to evaluate the presidential and local elections and embark on reflection and reform."

Jeon Hae-cheol, a Democratic Party lawmaker mentioned as a next party leader candidate, said, "Concerns about the lack of responsible politics as a party, ethical issues, and decision-making far from public common sense have emerged since the last presidential election defeat, but active public discussion at the party level has not been achieved," and insisted, "A cold evaluation of the presidential and local election defeats must precede."

On the other hand, there were also calls for party unity. Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho, seemingly referring to the narrow victory in the Gyeonggi Province governor election, said, "The people struck a harsh whip again but left a faint hope," and appealed, "We must abandon selfishness and unite with the principle of putting the party before personal interests."

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