People Power Party on Kim Minseok's Election: "Public Will Over Loyalty... Need to Open Door to Cooperation"

Concerns Grow Over Kim's Leadership and Indictment Withdrawal

Pro-Jeong Cheongrae Faction Dominates Supreme Council

Analysis: "Divisions Within the Ruling Party Enter a New Phase"

On August 18, the People Power Party urged Kim Minseok, the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to "become the ruling party leader who conveys the will of the people to the President without filtering." The results of the election, which saw pro-Jeong Cheongrae figures take a majority of the top party executive positions, have also fueled predictions that internal fragmentation within the ruling party could intensify.

Kim Seungsoo, the People Power Party's senior deputy floor leader, said at the party's floor strategy meeting that day, "The Democratic Party's prolonged and chaotic leadership election has finally ended," adding, "Ultimately, President Lee's attempt to seize control of the party leadership has effectively failed."

He continued, "Despite open support from President Lee, Kim Minseok only narrowly won in regions outside of Honam, and three pro-Jeong Cheongrae figures have entered the party's top executive committee. If the President had not targeted Honam with a semiconductor cluster policy tailored to the party congress schedule, the outcome might have been different."

Inside the People Power Party's floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Seong Iljong, a senior lawmaker of the People Power Party, evaluated the recent Democratic Party leadership contest during an MBC radio interview on the same day, saying, "It became clear that there is a significant gap between the group within the Democratic Party that considers pro-Noh and pro-Moon factions as the mainstream and the new wave centered around President Lee Jaemyung."

Assemblyman Seong pointed to the public opinion poll results, where former leader Jeong Cheongrae narrowly led Kim Minseok, and three pro-Jeong figures entered the leadership. He said, "While the organization overcame the momentum, it was also confirmed that the Jeong Cheongrae faction remains quite strong. The internal fragmentation of the ruling party has now truly begun."

Yoon Sanghyun, a five-term lawmaker, expressed concerns that Kim Minseok may support the possible withdrawal of prosecution for President Lee's ongoing trials. Yoon stated, "What is needed from the leader of the ruling party is not politics aimed at defending the President, but rather ensuring that the people's sentiment is properly conveyed to the President," adding, "There must be no actions that could appear to be preparatory moves for the withdrawal of prosecution related to the President's trials."

He went on to say, "The choice now is whether the supermajority party will use its numbers to push its own agenda unilaterally, or pursue cooperative politics with the opposition for public well-being. It is not that loyalty to the party and public sentiment should become the same; rather, public sentiment must become the standard for the party and leadership loyalty."

Chief Spokesperson Park Sunghoon also remarked, "The Democratic Party leadership consistently voiced positions disconnected from the people's livelihoods and has acted as a shield to protect President Lee from legal risks. If this perception does not change, declining approval ratings for the government and ruling party and growing public discontent will only accelerate." He added, "What matters now is delivering tangible legislation for the people and their livelihoods," urging a fundamental change in the Democratic Party's approach toward the opposition.

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