"I am the right person with Yoon's heart" Intensified ruling party leadership race... Yoon Sang-hyun rallies pro-Park faction

On the 5th, Kim Gi-hyeon, Ahn Cheol-soo, Na Kyung-won, and others attended the Songpa-eul New Year's Meeting
Yoon Sang-hyun officially declares 'party leadership challenge'... Appeals for support from 'TK' at Park Jeong-hee's birthplace

[Asia Economy Reporters Bomryeong Geum and Youngwon Kim] As the People Power Party's leadership election scheduled for March 8 approaches, the movements of the party leadership candidates are becoming active.

On the 5th, with Representative Kwon Seong-dong, considered a 'Yun Hae-gwan (core associate of President Yoon Seok-yeol),' declaring he will not run in the leadership election, key figures such as Representative Kim Ki-hyun, who is mentioned as a candidate for party leader, Vice Chairwoman Na Kyung-won of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, and Representative Ahn Cheol-soo are increasing contact with party members while advocating for President Yoon's intention, the 'Yun-sim.'

Also, former pro-Park Geun-hye core member Representative Yoon Sang-hyun officially declared his candidacy at the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee, appealing to Yeongnam party members for a 'capital region victory.'

At the People Power Party's New Year's meeting in Songpa-eul, Seoul, on the afternoon of the same day, many leading party leadership candidates, including Representative Kim Ki-hyun, Representative Ahn Cheol-soo, and Vice Chairwoman Na Kyung-won, appeared in force. About 30 members of 'Gukmin Gonggam,' the largest pro-Yoon faction within the party, attended the event, which is interpreted as an effort to capture the 'Yun-sim.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Representative Kim, regarded as the 'mainstream Yun-sim,' said to reporters after the Songpa-eul New Year's meeting, regarding Representative Kwon's decision not to run, "It is a sacrificial decision for the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol government," and added, "I think it will be a great catalyst for party unity, so I highly appreciate it."

Earlier that day, Representative Kwon held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and announced, "I will not run in the People Power Party leadership election," explaining, "I have willingly accepted the concerns and public opinion of party members that if the president's closest aide enters the leadership, there could be unnecessary misunderstandings regarding party operations and general election nominations."

Due to Representative Kwon's withdrawal, it is analyzed that Representative Kim's position has strengthened. He formed the 'Kim-Jang Alliance' with Representative Jang Je-won, another leadership contender, and volunteered as the 'right person for Yun-sim.' With Representative Kwon stepping down, it is expected that party member votes supporting President Yoon will concentrate on Representative Kim.

Representative Kwon Seong-dong Declares Withdrawal... Will President Yoon's Support Shift to Kim Ki-hyun?

There is also an interpretation that Representative Kwon made this decision because the proliferation of pro-Yoon candidates would lower the chances of winning. However, Representative Kim said regarding the interpretation of 'pro-Yoon coordination,' "The term 'coordination' is a very inappropriate expression," adding, "Representative Kwon has made many sacrificial contributions for the party, so I think he intends to use his political assets as fertilizer for our party's success and to build upon them."

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party running for the party's next leader (left), is greeting Jang Je-won at the People Power Party Songpa-eul New Year's Meeting held on the afternoon of the 5th at the Songpa District Community Center in Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Vice Chairwoman Na also showed a cautious attitude about running, saying, "I will still consider various things evenly," and "I will think about it a little more." However, since she is currently leading in party member polls, it is reported that she leans toward running. At the Songpa-eul New Year's meeting, many party members loudly chanted "Na Kyung-won," and due to requests for photos, Vice Chairwoman Na was the last to leave the lecture hall.

Representative Ahn, who made a significant contribution during President Yoon's presidential candidacy by achieving 'unification,' and even served as the chairman of the presidential transition committee, also emphasized the 'Yun-sim' on this day.

Representative Ahn was invited to the presidential residence, which is considered a benchmark for the 'direction of Yun-sim.' Regarding reporters' questions about visiting the residence, Ahn confirmed, "At first, President Yoon said it would be nice to have a dinner once, and then Mrs. Kim Geon-hee said she would invite us as a couple."

People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo (left) and Na Kyung-won, Vice Chair of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, are attending the People Power Party Songpa-eul New Year's Meeting held at Songpa-gu Community Center in Seoul on the afternoon of the 5th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

'An-Yun Alliance' Promoting Capital Region Leadership Theory

Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, who is challenging for the leadership of the People Power Party, is paying respects at the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, on the afternoon of the 5th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

While the party leadership candidates compete in Songpa, Representative Yoon Sang-hyun declared his candidacy at the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee in Gumi, Gyeongbuk. This is a strategy to emphasize the 'Park Chung-hee spirit' in Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK), known as the 'heart of conservatism,' and appeal for support. In his declaration, Representative Yoon stated, "I intend to awaken the innovative Park Chung-hee spirit and eradicate the chronic and pathological DNA of the People Power Party."

Representative Yoon, who has previously promoted the 'capital region candidacy theory' for party leader, also shouted on this day, "Please make the People Power Party one that can win in the capital region." He emphasized, "In the last general election, we won only 17 out of 121 seats in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. In short, our party has now become the Yeongnam branch of the United Liberal Democrats. Clearly, the heart of our People Power Party is Yeongnam and conservatism. However, the fight is carried out by the hands and feet belonging to the capital region. Victory or defeat is decided in the capital region."

This has sparked rumors of an 'An-Yun (Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoon Sang-hyun) alliance.' After his candidacy declaration, Representative Yoon told reporters, "Representative Ahn and I share many common views on the capital region leadership theory." Representative Ahn also did not deny the 'An-Yun alliance' when asked, responding, "Winning in the capital region in this general election is the most important. The Democratic Party has already reorganized its ranks. As you can see from the results of their leadership election, all elected officials are from the capital region. We also need to organize our ranks accordingly to counter them and win in the capital region."

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