PPP Convention: Will There Be a Runoff? ... 'Record-Breaking' Point of Interest

Chun Haram: "Just Let Me Make It to the Runoff"
Ahn Cheolsoo Takes a Stand Against the Presidential Office in Final Stretch
Kim Kihyun Risks a 'Pyrrhic Victory' Without an Overwhelming Win

As the People Power Party convention sees record-high mobile voting turnout, the excitement is intensifying and adding new points of interest. One such focus is the introduction of the runoff voting system, a change in this primary's rules. If a candidate secures a majority of over 50% in the first round, a runoff is unnecessary. However, if no candidate achieves a majority, the top two candidates will compete in a runoff. Kim Kihyun, the leading 'pro-Yoon' candidate, is confident of winning a majority in the first round, but those in the 2nd and 3rd positions are quietly hoping for a runoff.

Chun Haram, the 'Lee Junseok faction' candidate, expressed his determination to reach a runoff during BBS's 'Jeon Youngshin's Morning Journal' on the 6th, stating, "I believe I will win the runoff by about 55 to 45, if I make it to the runoff. Please help me get there." Chun is currently polling in third place in several surveys. His strategy is to achieve a 'silver cross' by overtaking Ahn Cheolsoo, who presents himself as a 'broad pro-Yoon' candidate, by emphasizing his own anti-Yoon stance.

Ahn Cheolsoo (from the left), Hwang Kyoan, Kim Kihyun, and Chun Haram, candidates for the party leader of the People Power Party, are holding hands and greeting each other at the 3rd Party Convention Seoul·Incheon·Gyeonggi Joint Speech Meeting held at Goyang Gymnasium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on the 2nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

If he makes it to the runoff, Chun plans to absorb Ahn's votes as well. Ahn has also considered a similar strategy and has reached out to Chun for potential cooperation. Chun commented, "Both Ahn and I believe we will make it to the runoff, so ultimately, the outcome of who advances will be decided on March 8. I think Ahn's supporters could fully back me in the runoff."

Ahn, too, appears to be preparing for a possible runoff in his final campaign moves. At a press conference at the National Assembly, he warned that if the presidential office does not provide a clear answer by the end of the day regarding media reports of a presidential aide asking party members to distribute promotional materials supporting Kim via group chat, "there will inevitably be legal action." Previously, on his social media, he also claimed, "The presidential office, the emergency committee, and the campaign committee are all unfair."

Observers interpret Ahn's strong stance-mentioning legal action at the last minute after previously refraining from direct criticism of the presidential office during the convention period-as being mindful of the runoff. Kim Jaewon, a candidate for the People Power Party's Supreme Council, said on SBS's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show,' "Initially, Ahn aligned himself with President Yoon Sukyeol, but as Chun Haram has firmly established himself in one camp, Ahn's presence has diminished. In this situation, if Ahn is aiming for a dramatic comeback in the runoff, he needs to raise his profile, and currently, this is the only way."

Kim Kihyun, the frontrunner, interpreted the record-high mobile voting turnout as 'conservative unity' and emphasized his goal of securing a majority in the first round. On MBC's 'Kim Jongbae's Focus,' he said, "My goal is a majority in the first round, and it must be a solid majority. That is how stable leadership is established." Given the many controversies during the convention process, he implied that winning by an overwhelming margin is necessary to avoid further disputes.

Kim is enjoying such high support that the phrase 'Eodaehyun' (meaning 'the representative will inevitably be Kim Kihyun') has emerged. Multiple polls show that he is likely to win not only in a multi-candidate race but also in a head-to-head contest against Ahn. As a result, the manner of his victory has become more important than the victory itself. If he fails to secure a majority in the first round and wins the runoff by a narrow margin, there is a risk of a 'Pyrrhic victory'-a win achieved at too great a cost.

Kim Chongin, former interim leader of the People Power Party, also pointed this out. On KBS's 'Choi Kyungyoung's Strongest Current Affairs,' he said, "Since it is said that Kim Kihyun has received the most support from President Yoon, if he fails to achieve his goal (a majority) in the first round, the party itself could face considerable confusion. This would show that the party is no longer following the president's wishes as it has in the past, which would also be an uncomfortable situation for the president."

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