The Democratic Party's Leadership Race Intensifies... "I am the Right Candidate to Gain Support from the Capital Region and MZ Generation"

Party Leader Candidate Yoon Sang-hyun "Victory in the Capital Region Election Belongs to Yoon Sang-hyun"
Yoo Seung-min and Ahn Cheol-soo Also Emphasize "Centrist Voters Are the Party's Face" and Expanding Outreach

Pro-Yoon Faction Shows Discomfort Over Capital Region Representation Theory
Kim Ki-hyun Calls Support for Specific Groups a Narrow View

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the ruling party's leadership election is expected to be held as early as the end of February next year, the competition for party leadership is intensifying. While the candidates each claim to be the right talent for the 'Capital Region and MZ Generation' theory, discomfort is also being observed among the pro-Yoon faction. There are also voices criticizing that the leadership competition is becoming excessively heated.

Yoon Sang-hyun, considered one of the next ruling party leadership candidates, appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the morning of the 8th and said, "People around me are strongly requesting, 'Isn't Yoon Sang-hyun the one to win the Capital Region election?'" He added, "I want to throw my passion and wisdom once for the success of the president and the government."

Yoon was elected as an independent in Incheon Michuhol District in the 2020 general election and then returned to the party. Considering that the People Power Party holds 17 seats out of 121 in Seoul and Incheon, he is evaluated as having competitiveness in the Capital Region. He said, "Looking at the current leadership candidates, who has a high possibility of winning the Capital Region?" and "I don't see anyone who has won their own constituency in the Capital Region election."

Earlier, Floor Leader Joo Ho-young and Emergency Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok emphasized the need for a party leader who gains support from the Capital Region and the MZ generation, and potential leadership candidates are stressing that they perfectly fit these conditions. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also mentioned Joo's remarks on the radio the day before, saying, "I wondered why he publicly supported me for once; is there any other candidate who fits the conditions?" Meanwhile, Ahn Cheol-soo, who has emphasized moderate expansion, stated on his social media that "the person who can bring support from moderates and the younger generation should become the face of the party."

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, and Jang Je-won attended the study group 'National Sympathy' held at the National Assembly on the 7th, exchanging greetings. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

However, discomfort is being expressed within the party, especially among the pro-Yoon faction, regarding the party's top two openly discussing the conditions for the party leader. Following lawmaker Jang Je-won's criticism the day before, saying, "Can the referee set the election standards?" lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun also appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the morning of the same day and said, "It's nonsense to talk about certain conditions," adding, "We need to secure support from the entire nation and all regions, and it's a very narrow view to say that only support from specific regions and groups is sufficient."

The debate over the conditions for the party leader is closely related to the rules of the leadership election, making a heated discussion over possible rule changes inevitable. Currently, there is a split among leadership candidates over whether to increase the party members' vote weight, which is currently reflected at 70%, to around 90%, depending on advantages and disadvantages. There are also voices pointing out the overheating of the leadership competition. Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu and the party's senior advisor, wrote on his social media that day, "Do they still mistake the party leader election for a talent contest?" and urged, "We need to elect a dignified figure whom party members can trust and rely on."

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