The Pro-Yoon Leadership Calms the Lee Jun-seok Storm... Eyes Turn to 'Nomination'

The result of the People Power Party's leadership election, in which the entire leadership was filled with pro-Yoon (親尹) factions, is being evaluated as a reflection of President Yoon Seok-yeol's absolute influence. It is said that party members overwhelmingly supported the pro-Yoon faction to empower the president, who is in his first year of office. Although the surge of 'Lee Jun-seok faction' candidates has subsided for now, there is an analysis that if the candidate selection results become excessively pro-Yoon ahead of next year's general election, a new party might be formed together with opposing forces.

Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council member, said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 9th, "There is a lot of criticism in the media saying 'it's all pro-Yoon,' but in fact, most of our party members currently earnestly hope that the Yoon administration, being in its early stage, succeeds and receives good evaluations from the public," adding, "Because they wanted a leadership that would become one with President Yoon and help govern the country well, this result came about." He received the highest number of votes among the Supreme Council candidates in this leadership election.

Kim Ki-hyun, Ahn Cheol-soo, Hwang Kyo-ahn, Chun Ha-ram, candidates for the People Power Party leadership, and Jeong Jin-seok, emergency committee chairman, are dancing together during the congratulatory performance at the People Power Party's 3rd national convention held on the afternoon of the 8th at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Cho Soo-jin, Supreme Council member, also explained the reason for the large election of pro-Yoon members on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show': "President Yoon has been in office for less than a year. Therefore, this is the 'president's party,' and as the ruling party supporting the president's governance, it is natural to be pro-Yoon."

On the other hand, the 'Lee Jun-seok faction' candidates, who openly declared themselves as 'anti-Yoon (反尹),' all failed to enter the leadership. Under the 100% party member primary rule, the election of pro-Yoon candidate Kim Ki-hyun was a foregone conclusion, but there are pointed criticisms that the limitations of the 'anti-Yoon' Lee Jun-seok faction were clear. Supreme Council member Kim said, "In any election, candidates who get about 15% of the vote can appear frequently. Even just gathering the protest votes against a strong opposing candidate can amount to about 15%," adding, "But support that cannot go beyond that and cannot expand is the issue."

Despite the failure of the 'Lee Jun-seok faction' to enter the leadership, former leader Lee is expected to continue political mobilization. After the election, Lee said on social media, "Not fearing to confront the strong and speaking the right words was the best strategy. I am very grateful to the party members who supported me, and I will strive harder for a better tomorrow than today." Candidate Chun Ha-ram also said, "Some may just parasitize power and be satisfied with a temporary position, but we chose not to do so," adding, "I ask that we continue together without getting tired."

Although the 'Lee Jun-seok faction' surge has subsided for now, there is a forecast that if a 'non-pro-Yoon faction candidate massacre' by the pro-Yoon faction occurs ahead of next year's candidate selection, former leader Lee will launch a new party together with Lee Jun-seok faction lawmakers. Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won said, "When former leader Lee faces cuts in the general election candidate selection, he will definitely resist," adding, "(If the candidate cuts) happen, the Lee Jun-seok faction will pack up their bags." He has previously predicted several times that former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and former leader Lee would form a new party before the general election.

On the other hand, Shin Pyung, a mentor to President Yoon and a lawyer, said on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' regarding the possibility of former leader Lee forming a new party, "It is unlikely that established parties will accept him, and if they clearly define their own line, they will form a conservative new party, but I wonder if they really have that kind of power. I do not think so."

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