[Viewpoint] Kim Ki-hyun Must Make a Decisive Move

“The party has no brain. There is absolutely no sign of any strategy.” On the 11th, during the by-election voting for the Mayor of Gangseo District in Seoul, a key figure from the People Power Party (PPP) was at a loss for words. He said that although it was an election to choose a district mayor, the party itself expanded the scope and turned it into a “regime judgment election.” He predicted, “If we lose by more than 15 percentage points, the aftershocks will be tremendous.” Then, his added remark was meaningful: “Still, Yongsan will not change.”

Whether his words prove true remains to be seen, but even a child knows the current power dynamics between the party and the Presidential Office. The phrase “the grip of the Presidential Office is tremendous” has now become a political buzzword. It is openly discussed in political circles that the Presidential Office exerted influence in the process of granting a pardon and reinstatement to Kim Tae-woo, the PPP candidate who ran in this by-election. Beyond the truth of the matter, what is important is that such perceptions have become widespread. In this process, the presence of the People Power Party has steadily weakened.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In the Gangseo District mayoral by-election, the People Power Party was defeated by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) by a margin of 17.15 percentage points. This closely mirrors the 17.87 percentage point gap in the overall vote share in Gangseo District during the 2020 21st general election. Public sentiment in Seoul does not move separately by district; it is interconnected. This is because Seoul itself functions as a single living area. This is why the current election result cannot be seen as just the outcome for Gangseo District, and why there are claims that the situation is not at all favorable to the People Power Party compared to the 21st general election. Despite the full mobilization of the PPP leadership, the result was dismal.

Based on a simple calculation of the current state, it can be estimated that the People Power Party will secure about 8 seats in Seoul in next year’s election. In the 21st general election, the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) won 8 seats, while the Democratic Party won 41 seats. Expanding the scope to the metropolitan area, the United Future Party won 16 seats, and the Democratic Party won 103 seats. Given this situation, it would not be surprising if a “metropolitan area crisis theory” turns into a “metropolitan area collapse theory” within the People Power Party.

If the People Power Party receives results similar to those of the 21st general election next year, President Yoon Suk-yeol could immediately face a lame-duck presidency, or even a more humiliating downfall. The next general election is a crucial vote that could determine the fate of the Yoon administration. Less than six months remain. Unlike the presidential election, which is held nationwide, the general election is conducted at the constituency level. Six months is a short period. The People Power Party does not have much time left.

However, the first message from PPP leader Kim Ki-hyun after the election defeat was, “We will prepare customized alternatives to win more hearts in weak areas such as the metropolitan region. We will listen to public sentiment with a humbler attitude, determined to start anew.” This meant seeking alternatives while maintaining the current leadership system. Judging from what has been shown so far, this is essentially a statement that there will be no major changes and things will continue as they are.

However, judging from the by-election results, it seems impossible to win hearts without changes under the “Kim Ki-hyun system.” Leader Kim must make a decisive move. The current People Power Party leadership is a “Yeongnam leadership.” Kim Ki-hyun represents Nam-gu Eul in Ulsan, Floor Leader Yoon Jae-ok represents Dalseo-gu Eul in Daegu, and Policy Committee Chair Park Dae-chul represents Jinju-si Gap in Gyeongnam. There is no one who can truly feel the gravity of the metropolitan area or symbolize its significance. This is the height of complacency and a reflection of the lack of strategy. It is common sense that one must empty to fill, and must let go to hold.

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