"Yoon Administration Lacking" "Yoo Seung-min, Please Come"… Turbulent <em>People Power Party</em>

The People Power Party is suffering from various crisis theories on the 1st, nine days before the general election. As unfavorable public opinion is detected in major battlegrounds such as the metropolitan area, Nakdong River, and semiconductor belt, ruling party candidates have demanded a 'presidential apology to the nation.'

On the same day, the People Power Party's election committee poured out a letter of reflection at the election countermeasures meeting held at the central party office in Yeouido. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the People Power Party's election committee, said at the meeting, "The government and ruling party must comply with public sentiment. Public sentiment is the will of heaven, and the people have always been right," adding, "We must start again with a humble attitude at the people's level until the people say it is enough."

Ahn Cheol-soo, Co-Chairman of the People Power Party's Central Election Countermeasures Committee, is speaking at the Central Election Countermeasures Committee meeting held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the 1st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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This remark is interpreted as stemming from a sense of crisis due to the 'defeat theory' in the general election, following recent polls showing the ruling party's support rate lagging. According to a party support survey conducted by Realmeter on behalf of Energy Economy from the 28th to 29th of last month, targeting 1,004 people aged 18 and over nationwide, using 97% wireless and 3% wired automated response method (95% confidence level, sampling error ±3.1 percentage points), the People Power Party recorded 35.4%, and the Democratic Party 43.1%. The People Power Party dropped 1.7 percentage points compared to a week earlier, while the Democratic Party rose 0.3 percentage points. For more details, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.

Handonghun, the Chief Election Strategy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is appealing for support along with candidates Kim Youngju and Park Yongchan at Yeongjin Market in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 29th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@ Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

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Voices of candidates demanding specific actions such as a direct apology from President Yoon Seok-yeol are also growing louder. Jo Hae-jin, the People Power Party candidate for Gimhae-eul in Gyeongnam, said the day before, "The way to survive is for President Yoon Seok-yeol to kneel before the people," adding, "President Yoon must sincerely reflect and reproach himself for turning the people's expectations into disappointment and anger," delivering strong remarks. Kim Geun-sik, the People Power Party candidate running in Songpa-gu Byeong, Seoul, also argued on KBS radio that day, "Regarding the issue of attitude, a sincere apology and words of reflection from the president are absolutely necessary."

The number of candidates requesting former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, classified as non-Yoon faction, to conduct on-site election campaigns is also increasing. Former lawmaker Yoo visited Lee Yong-ho, the People Power Party candidate for Seodaemun-gap, Seoul, the day before, and on the same day, he campaigned with candidates Park Kyung-ho (Daejeon Daedeok), Lee Sang-min (Daejeon Yuseong-eul), and Yoon So-sik (Daejeon Yuseong-gap). On the 2nd, he plans to appeal for support together with candidates Oh Kyung-hoon (Seoul Yangcheon-eul), Yoon Sang-hyun (Incheon Dongmichuhol-eul), Choi Won-sik (Incheon Gyeyang-gap), and Lee Hyun-woong (Incheon Bupyeong-eul).

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