[Inside Chodong] The Ruling Party Should Look to the People, Not Yongsan

The aftermath of the crushing defeat in the election for a single district mayor exceeded expectations. It has led to the resignation of the ruling party leader and ongoing demands for personnel reshuffles in the presidential office for several days. Since the party poured all its efforts into the election, there are even talks within the party about a 'jibusangso (持斧上疏).' At this point, some say everyone should go to Yongsan and submit an 'axe memorial.'

In response to criticism that the party is being dragged along, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, said, "We will make the relationship between the party, government, and presidential office healthier," adding, "In the party-government-presidential office relationship, the party will strengthen its leading role in conveying and reflecting public sentiment." It seems that demands that had been pouring in from the grassroots since Kim's leadership began are only being addressed after the by-election defeat.

Having entered the election with internal conflicts smoldering for months, Kim ultimately decided to maintain the basic system. This is the 'Kim Ki-hyun Leadership Phase 2' reform plan, which emphasizes the resignation of all appointed officials and a swift transition to a general election system. To overcome the responsibility for the by-election defeat directed at him, Kim even expressed his determination, saying, "If we lose the general election, I will take responsibility by retiring from politics."

President Yoon Seok-yeol also told his aides the day before, "Please strengthen communication with the public, on-site communication, and communication between the party and government." While this may not be a direct response to Kim's reform intentions, it can be interpreted as a message of trust.

However, no one is unaware that pro-Yoon appointed officials resigned to block responsibility from falling on President Yoon. Rather than criticism calling it a "stopgap measure that only makes noise," the result was strengthened support for opinions such as "The leadership should not be shaken" and "We must unite rather than divide." Kim read President Yoon's request for "calm change" literally once again.

The reason the reform plan announced the day before, after watching the party's internal and external sentiments, is criticized as "changing the tail" lies here. By appointing a Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) lawmaker as the party secretary-general, a key position overseeing next year's general election nominations, it caused a side effect of the leadership's strong Yeongnam region color. While blocking the party leader's responsibility by replacing appointed party officials, the three key roles?party leader, floor leader, and secretary-general?were all filled by Yeongnam region members. In fact, this reform left the elected leadership, chosen by the president, untouched.

As the president's ambiguous message and the party leader's stagnant reform plan drifted away from the public's expectations, internal party noise grew louder. Former leader Lee Jun-seok and lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo exchanged harsh words and fell into a mudslinging fight, and text messages between Supreme Council member Cho Soo-jin and Kim Seong-ho, deputy director of the Yeouido Institute, added fuel to the leadership responsibility debate.

The problem is that there is no sign of consideration about what a healthy relationship between the president and the ruling party should be. Even setting aside cooperation with the opposition, there is no mechanism to convey the people's voice between the presidential office and the ruling party, which clearly appear to have a hierarchical relationship. If the presidential office and government show policy directions and speeds different from the public's expectations, the ruling party must quickly and accurately convey the people's voice to exert proper influence as the ruling party.

The public is asking whether Kim has the determination to convey grassroots public sentiment to the presidential office. Although it ended with a district mayor election this time, next year's general election is a decisive judgment that will determine the success or failure of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. If the ruling party forgets its role again, the public will inevitably perceive the by-election and the general election as a confrontation between the president and the Democratic Party.

President Yoon also needs change. Although he showed strong leadership in pushing the three major reforms (pension, education, labor) without concern for popularity, the perception of unilateral governance and lack of communication has left only ideological warfare. If the 'lesson from the election results' that the president himself mentioned remains merely an analysis of failure, no one will be able to smile next spring. / Political Desk Deputy Chief Bae Kyunghwan

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