Kim Ki-hyun, Ahn Cheol-soo, Chun Ha-ram, Hwang Kyo-ahn Advance to Main Round of Ruling Party Leadership Election

No Announcement of Rankings and Vote Percentages
Joint Speeches Nationwide Starting from Jeju on the 13th

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong and Kim Youngwon] Four candidates?Kim Ki-hyun, Ahn Cheol-soo, Chun Ha-ram, and Hwang Kyo-ahn?have advanced to the final round of the People Power Party's March 8 leadership election.

On the 10th, the People Power Party Election Commission announced the results of a public opinion poll conducted from the 8th to 9th among 6,000 responsible party members.

The rankings and vote percentages were not disclosed, considering that revealing specific figures could influence the final round.

On the 7th, at a broadcasting studio in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the leadership of the People Power Party and the party representative candidates, including Emergency Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok and Floor Leader Joo Ho-young, are taking a commemorative photo at the 3rd party convention candidate vision presentation. From the left: Jo Kyung-tae, Yoon Sang-hyun, Hwang Kyo-ahn, Ahn Cheol-soo, Cheon Ha-ram, Kim Ki-hyun, party representative candidates; Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Committee Chairman; Yoo Heung-soo, election management committee chairman of the party convention; Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader; Kim Seok-ki, Secretary General. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Various polls show a close race between candidates Kim and Ahn for first place. After former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who had been leading in party support, announced she would not run and endorsed Kim, along with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s criticism of Ahn, the race has remained volatile.

Chun’s rising momentum is also expected to be a factor. Chun officially declared his candidacy for party leader only on the 3rd, entering the race relatively late compared to other candidates, but some polls show him with 8?10% support. Chun is endorsed by former party leader Lee Jun-seok.

Eight candidates?Kim Byung-min, Kim Yong-tae, Kim Jae-won, Jung Mi-kyung, Cho Soo-jin, Tae Young-ho, and Heo Eun-ah?have qualified for the final round of the Supreme Council member election. Incumbent lawmakers Park Sung-joong, Lee Man-hee, and Lee Yong, who participated in the preliminary round, were eliminated.

Four candidates?Kim Garam, Kim Jeong-sik, Lee Gi-in, and Jang Ye-chan?have advanced to the final round for the Youth Supreme Council member election.

Election Commission Chair Yoo Heung-soo said, "We once again express our gratitude and consolation to the candidates who did not advance to the final round and hope everyone will contribute their efforts toward the success of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and victory in the general election. The Central Party Election Commission pledges to continue doing its best to ensure fair election management."

The final round candidates will attend the "Pledge for a Better Future" ceremony at the National Assembly at 2 p.m. today, where they will promise fair and transparent competition.

Starting on the 13th in Jeju Island, the candidates will tour the country, holding joint regional speeches in Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Gangwon, and Gyeonggi. Debates will be held four times for party leader candidates and once for Supreme Council and Youth Supreme Council candidates.

If no party leader candidate obtains a majority in the March 8 convention next month, a one-on-one debate between the top two candidates will be held on the 9th, followed by a runoff vote conducted online and via an automated response system (ARS) on the 10th and 11th, with the final results announced on the 12th.

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