Daean and Future: "People Power Party Defeated in Local Elections... Jang's Leadership Cannot Be Sustained"

Reform-minded Lawmakers Evaluate Local Election Results
Kim Jaeseop: "The Public Mandate Is to Rebuild Centrist Conservatism"
Concerns Raised: "Daegu Could Be Taken by the Democratic Party"

The reform-oriented group of People Power Party lawmakers, 'Alternative and Future,' held a discussion forum to evaluate the results of the 9th nationwide local elections. On this day, both experts and lawmakers agreed that the People Power Party had clearly "lost" in this election. They also noted that the leadership of Jang Donghyuk cannot serve as an alternative for presenting a future vision or for conservative unity.

The reform-oriented group of People Power Party lawmakers, 'Alternative and Future,' held a discussion forum evaluating the June 3rd local elections at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News.

On June 9, Alternative and Future held a public discussion forum at the National Assembly Members' Office Building under the theme, "The People's Mandate Confirmed by the June 3 Local Elections: What Should We Do?" to evaluate the recent local elections.

The event was attended by Assemblyman Lee Sungkwon, secretary of Alternative and Future, and discussants Assemblymen Kim Jaeseop, Woo Jaejun, and Jeong Yeonwook. Park Sungmin, CEO of the political consulting firm MIN, served as the keynote speaker. In addition, lawmakers Seo Beomsoo, Kwon Youngjin, Um Taeyoung, Lee Yangsoo, Cho Eunhee, Park Jeongha, Kim Sohui, Kim Geon, Ko Dongjin, and Kim Yongtae were present. Lawmaker candidates for floor leader Kim Doeup, Sung Iljong, and Jeong Jeomsik also attended.

Assemblyman Lee Sungkwon stated, "The People Power Party was defeated in the election," emphasizing, "We should not try to rationalize or interpret the results in a self-serving way by citing the number of elected metropolitan mayors or parliamentary candidates." He added, "To secure victory in the 2028 National Assembly elections and the 2030 presidential election, and to prove that we are a party capable of governing, we must conduct an objective and rigorous evaluation."

CEO Park Sungmin identified the following characteristics of this election outcome: ▲ the expiration of the 'insurrection frame' within the Democratic Party, ▲ decoupling caused by a lack of competence and internal conflict within both ruling and opposition leadership, and ▲ the spread of anti-Democratic Party sentiment among the 2030 generation. He further argued that, for conservatives to win, it is necessary to propose a national vision and strategy, achieve conservative unity, and develop winning strategies.

However, CEO Park also pointed out that such leadership capable of executing these strategies is absent within the conservative camp. He explained, "In the case of Representative Jang Donghyuk, it's not because of his past actions, but because he lacks the ability to construct a strategic framework for the nation, lacks the ability to unite conservatives, and cannot lead the party to victory. For these reasons, his leadership cannot be sustained."

Lawmakers participating in the debate also pointed to the limitations of the Jang Donghyuk leadership. Assemblyman Kim Jaeseop, who supported the Seoul mayoral race, stated, "Distancing from Representative Jang was the key to this Seoul election," and added, "The outcome of this Seoul election (victory) vividly shows the people's mandate for a clear break from the 'Yoon Again' faction, and, further, for a reconstruction of conservatism with a centrist orientation."

There was self-reflection on the fact that even in Daegu, a conservative stronghold, the race was unexpectedly close. Assemblyman Woo Jaejun remarked, "It is painful to say that the (Daegu mayoral) victory cannot truly be considered a victory, and the quality of the win was poor. People thinking about the future voted for the Democratic Party, while those thinking about the past voted for us." He continued, "If we do not thoroughly prepare for the future, a day will come when even Daegu is lost to the Democratic Party."

In Buk-gap, Busan, the most closely watched region among the nationwide re- and by-election districts, it was pointed out that a poor decision by the leadership led to defeat. Assemblyman Jeong Yeonwook stated, "If we fail to restore the party's brand power, and if the only strategy is to constantly attack President Lee Jaemyung, then our party has no future. I believe the Jang Donghyuk leadership cannot avoid this discussion either."

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