Multiple Yeo Party Presidential Candidates Emerge... Na Kyung-won's 'Presence' Stands Out

"'Become Party Leader' Suggestion Heard" Directly Indicates Candidacy
Possibility of Alliance with Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Cheol-soo

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the People Power Party's leadership election scheduled for early March next year approaches, the presence of Na Kyung-won, Vice Chairperson of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee and Climate Environment Ambassador, who is currently leading the party's internal approval ratings, is growing. Although she has not announced whether she will run for party leader, she has consistently hinted at the possibility and the potential for 'alliances' with major candidates is also being highlighted.

Na Kyung-won: "A Strong and Solid Ruling Party is Needed"

Vice Chairperson Na has recently been increasing her remarks emphasizing her role within the party and government. On the 27th, the day after the 'North Korean drone invasion,' she stated through her social media (SNS), "For the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, urgently restoring the weakened defense capabilities and vigilance against North Korea since the Moon Jae-in administration is an urgent and critical task."

Vice Chairperson Na said, "A strong and solid ruling party is naturally necessary to accomplish that task." She added, "That is why next year's leadership election is also important." She also tagged #SenseOfMission #NaKyungwon #LeadershipElection, implying that she holds a kind of 'sense of mission' ahead of the leadership election.

On the 11th, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is seen in a bright mood talking with former lawmaker Na Kyung-won in front of a building in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, which suffered heavy damage due to heavy rain. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On the 25th, she also sparked attention by posting on SNS, "The thing I hear most these days is 'Please become the party leader.'" This can be interpreted as hinting at her candidacy for party leader.

Especially since the People Power Party recently amended its party constitution and regulations to reflect 100% of party member votes in the leadership election, the possibility of Vice Chairperson Na, who leads the party's internal approval ratings, winning has increased. The day before, she also said on SNS, "Only the unity of the party and government and the absolute support of the people can complete reform."

Vice Chairperson Na has been consistently mentioned as a candidate for party leadership. Although she was considered to have been 'sorted out' after being appointed Vice Chairperson of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee and Climate Environment Ambassador in October, she has kept the possibility of running open through several media interviews. She has also consistently ranked first in internal party approval ratings in various polls asking about the next party leader.

Although she has not yet declared her intention to run, if the fragmented leadership candidates prove to be uncompetitive, she may step in directly. On the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Sang-beom analyzed on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "If other pro-Yoon group candidates do not have competitiveness, it is a situation where there is sufficient expectation that she will have no choice but to decide for herself. It seems she is judging that timing."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

There is talk of Na-An Alliance (Na Kyung-won & Ahn Cheol-soo)... but Ahn Cheol-soo denies it

Since running for party leader practically requires resigning from appointed positions, there is also analysis that she will exert influence by supporting a specific candidate within the party rather than running directly. The recent 'alliance rumors' within the party support this.

Kim Ki-hyun, a People Power Party lawmaker who officially declared his candidacy for party leader on the same day, responded positively to the alliance rumors with Vice Chairperson Na, saying, "(Vice Chairperson Na) is a valuable asset of the party," and "We will go through a process of utilizing that asset to create a greater whole." Since Kim also officially formed the so-called 'Kim-Jang Alliance' with Jang Je-won, known as a 'Yoon core insider,' attention is focused on whether the Kim-Jang Alliance will expand into a 'Na-Kim-Jang' alliance.

Another leadership candidate rumored to be allied with Vice Chairperson Na is lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo. Although he previously drew a line by saying, "We have not yet discussed such matters," the party views the possibility of an alliance between the two highly.

Another leadership candidate, lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, targeted this by saying on SNS, "There is talk of a Na-An alliance (Na Kyung-won & Ahn Cheol-soo)." Lawmaker Cho Hae-jin commented on the possibility of their alliance, saying, "In the first round, everyone is scattered individually, but as we enter the stage of cutoffs or runoff elections, there is a high possibility that alliance movements will naturally emerge in this phase."

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