'Minister Draft Theory' Kwon Young-se and Won Hee-ryong Said to Have Close Ties with President Yoon

Ministers Kwon Young-se and Won Hee-ryong Both Share Common Backgrounds with President Yoon: Seoul Law School and Prosecutor Experience

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] The People Power Party's national convention to elect the next party leader is scheduled for early March next year, and there are ongoing discussions about drafting current ministers such as Unification Minister Kwon Young-se and Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong. Previously, there was talk of drafting Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, but as Minister Han himself dismissed the candidacy rumors, attention has shifted to Ministers Kwon and Won.

Both are 'Seoul National University Law School graduates' and 'former prosecutors,' sharing many commonalities with President Yoon Seok-yeol. Since the People Power Party values 'harmony with the Yoon administration' for the next party leader, these two are being mentioned as potential candidates.

Minister Kwon is a senior who entered Seoul National University Law School in 1977, two years before President Yoon. Kwon and President Yoon are known to have a close relationship dating back to their university days, including joint activities in the Criminal Law Society.

Won Hee-ryong, head of policy at the People Power Party, and Kwon Young-se, head of the election countermeasures headquarters, attended the joint meeting between the election countermeasures headquarters and the floor leadership held at the National Assembly on February 10. They are seen talking before the meeting started. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Minister Kwon was also a key figure who contributed to President Yoon's victory in the last presidential election as a political newcomer. In December last year, amid difficulties with the dissolution of the election campaign committee, Kwon took on the role of head and secretary-general of the newly formed election campaign headquarters, leading Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign at the time.

When President Yoon was the president-elect, Minister Kwon served as the vice-chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, and after the government was launched, he was appointed as the Unification Minister. As a four-term lawmaker from Seoul, Minister Kwon aligns with the People Power Party's goal of needing a party leader who can appeal to the metropolitan area for victory in the 2024 general election.

Minister Won is also a Seoul National University Law School graduate and former prosecutor, with strong connections to President Yoon. Having served as Governor of Jeju Province, Minister Won ran as a candidate in the People Power Party's presidential primary last year, competing against President Yoon, but after losing, he joined Yoon's presidential campaign.

Minister Won served as the head of the policy headquarters in the campaign headquarters, overseeing the overall presidential election policy pledges, and was the planning chairman of the transition committee. After the launch of the Yoon administration, he was surprisingly appointed as the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister, surpassing other rumored candidates. As a three-term lawmaker representing a Seoul district, Minister Won is regarded as a politician with comprehensive experience in the judiciary, legislature, and administration.

However, both Ministers Kwon and Won have not clearly stated their positions regarding running in the national convention. On the 20th, Lee Cheol-gyu, a People Power Party lawmaker classified as pro-Yoon, said in an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "(The drafting rumors) I don't know what they are based on, but ultimately, candidates who run in the election will read the voters' and party members' sentiments and decide to run."

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