Heated People Power Party Leadership Race...Rapid Realignment into Pro-Impeachment vs. Anti-Impeachment Camps

At Least 7 Candidates Mentioned...Calls for 'Unification' Amidst Clash Between Reform and Jeon Han-gil Factions

Rep. Jang Dong-hyuk Announces Candidacy for Party Leader (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joo-sung = People Power Party lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk announces his candidacy for party leader at the National Assembly Museum in Yeouido, Seoul, on July 23. 2025.7.23 utzza@yna.co.kr

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Chi-yeon = As the race to elect a new leader for the People Power Party heats up towards the August 22 convention, the party is rapidly realigning into a confrontation between the so-called 'pro-impeachment' (pro-impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol) and 'anti-impeachment' (anti-impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol) factions, divided over the issue of impeaching former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

As the party's innovation committee repeatedly proposed measures to overcome the 'river of impeachment' and figures like Jeon Han-gil, who opposed the impeachment of former President Yoon, joined the party, internal conflicts have deepened. The situation has become even clearer with the official announcement of candidacies by prominent anti-impeachment figures like Rep. Jang Dong-hyuk.

Consequently, there are predictions that this convention will be a major battle between factions, centered around impeachment, similar to the primary for the last presidential election.

Rep. Jang Dong-hyuk, who opposed the impeachment of former President Yoon, declared his candidacy at the National Assembly on July 23, stating, "It is absolutely unacceptable to drive the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the party into crisis through internal strife and support for impeachment, and to engage in an 'extreme right-wing' smear campaign using the 'extreme right-wing' label created by the Democratic Party."

Rep. Ju Jin-woo, a former member of the Presidential Secretariat under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, also formalized his bid for party leadership, saying, "I will re-organize the party's front lines and transform it into a young and strong conservative force."

In addition to these two lawmakers, four others, including former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo, who was the party's presidential candidate in the last election, and Rep. Cho Kyeong-tae, had declared their candidacy for party leader by the end of the day.

With the addition of Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, who has expressed his intention to run, former Presidential Office Future Strategy Planning Officer Jang Sung-min, and former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, a multi-candidate field of at least seven is expected.

Former leader Han Dong-hoon is also reportedly considering a run.

Kim Moon-soo Announces Candidacy for Party Leadership (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joo-hyung = Former presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party announces his candidacy for party leader at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on July 20. 2025.7.20 kjhpress@yna.co.kr

This convention is expected to be characterized by a confrontation between candidates who support and oppose impeachment, similar to the primary for the last presidential election.

Immediately, a battle line is forming among candidates regarding the personnel purge of the former mainstream faction, referred to as the 'pro-Yoon' (pro-Yoon Suk-yeol) faction.

The anti-impeachment candidates are defining reform proposals targeted at specific individuals as 'internal infighting' and 'self-harm' and are emphasizing unity.

In his declaration of candidacy, Rep. Jang stated towards the pro-impeachment faction, "If it will diminish the party's fighting power, I believe there is no reason for them to be in our party."

Former Minister Kim also criticized the personnel reform proposal during his candidacy announcement on the 20th, saying, "If the party innovates in a direction that shrinks it, half of it is innovation, but it could be significant self-harm."

Rep. Cho Kyeong-tae Holding a Press Conference (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Dong-ju = People Power Party lawmaker Cho Kyeong-tae holds a press conference on current issues, including urging for the unification of reformist candidates, at the National Assembly Communication Center in Yeouido, Seoul, on July 23. 2025.7.23 pdj6635@yna.co.kr

The pro-impeachment candidates are criticizing the anti-impeachment faction's extreme right-wing tendencies and are emphasizing reform and innovation. In this process, the possibility of unification among pro-impeachment candidates is also being raised to form an anti-Yoon alliance.

It is argued that since the pro-impeachment candidates generally agree on the direction of party reform, including personnel purges, they could attempt to consolidate their power through unification.

In fact, Rep. Cho held a press conference at the National Assembly today, defining candidates who can fully accept the reform proposals of former interim leader Kim Yong-tae and innovation committee member Yoon as 'reformists,' and proposed, "Let's achieve unification among reformist candidates through a grand reform roundtable."

Rep. Ahn has recently met with former leader Han to discuss reform measures and is continuing to contact reform-minded figures within the party, including an informal lunch meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on July 24.

There are also clear differences in stance among candidates regarding the admission of Jeon Han-gil, who symbolizes the so-called 'asphalt extreme right-wing,' into the party.

Pro-impeachment candidates categorize Jeon as an "extreme right-wing figure" and argue that measures such as expulsion are necessary due to concerns that his admission will lead to the party becoming extreme right-wing.

Conversely, anti-impeachment candidates hold the position of inclusivity, stating, "If there are no specific issues, we should accept his membership" (former Minister Kim), and "He is someone who fought with us on impeachment" (Rep. Jang).

chic@yna.co.kr

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