Yoo Seung-min Hints at Next Party Leadership Bid… Ahn Cheol-soo Says "Yoo's Candidacy Will Be Difficult"

Liu Shares Article Ranking First in Suitability for Party Leader

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min shared an article on social networking services (SNS) stating that he has been leading the suitability poll for the next leader of the People Power Party for seven consecutive weeks, sparking speculation that he might be hinting at a bid for party leadership.

On the 9th, Yoo Seung-min copied part of the article verbatim. The quoted passage included, "It is noteworthy that former lawmaker Yoo recorded the highest support rate among respondents residing in Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK), where traditional conservative supporters are concentrated, and that his support rate is rising among conservative-leaning respondents. Some interpret Yoo's strong performance as a result that cannot be simply seen as reverse voting."

Yoo has recently been critical of President Yoon Seok-youl's use of profanity controversies. Regarding the People Power Party Ethics Committee's decision to impose an additional 'one-year suspension of party membership' on former leader Lee Jun-seok, he wrote, "Isn't this something even a passing dog would laugh at?" and added, "If 'sheep's head, dog meat' is grounds for discipline, then why isn't party member Yoon Seok-youl, who used abusive language like 'that xx' and 'damn it,' disciplined?"

Ahn Cheol-soo, member of the People Power Party. [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo stated on MBN's 'Jung Woon-gap's Focused Analysis' that he believes Yoo's chances of running in the party convention are "difficult."

Ahn pointed out, "(Yoo) lost to Kim Eun-hye in the last Gyeonggi Province governor primary despite the 50-50 rule reflecting both responsible party members and general public opinion," adding, "He must be aware that he did not gain trust within the party."

Ahn said, "Under the current 70-30 rule, I think Yoo will seriously consider whether he should run or focus more on gaining the trust of party members."

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