“The ruling party is not doing what it should do and is wasting energy on political struggles that have nothing to do with the people’s livelihood.” (People Power Party Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, 4th term)
“There is no room for a war of words in the Supreme Committee (due to the controversy over the party member bulletin board), or for something like that. “When it comes to making a living, the people are cold to the People Power Party.” (Former floor leader Kim Seong-tae of the People Power Party)
The day after Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was acquitted in the first trial on charges of instigation of perjury, theories of crisis erupted within the People Power Party. As the ruling party has been mired in a ‘party member bulletin board civil war’ over whether Representative Han Dong-hoon’s family wrote defamatory comments on the party member bulletin board for over 20 days, some say that Representative Han’s leadership is also in crisis. Along with the point out that it has become difficult for the People Power Party to rely only on Lee Jae-myung’s negative interests, concerns are growing that a bigger crisis could occur if even the people’s livelihood, which is the responsibility of the ruling party, is put on the back burner. People Power Party lawmaker Kim Yong-tae said, “We have fallen into a complex crisis where we have lost momentum for reform and have low approval ratings.”
● ‘Your fault’ civil war without understanding the truth behind the party member bulletin board controversy
On the 26th, Representative Han protested against the controversy over the party member bulletin board, saying, “The problem is people who unnecessarily create confusion that does not exist.” Supreme Council member Jang Dong-hyuk, a key member of the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction, argued that “the continued attacks are ultimately aimed at degrading Representative Han’s leadership.” On the other hand, Rep. Kwon Young-se, a 5-term senior member who is classified as a pro-Yoon (pro-Yun Seok-yeol) faction, said in a phone call on the same day, “We need to confirm whether Representative Han’s family name was stolen in connection with the controversy over the party member bulletin board,” and “At the party supreme committee meeting, (the controversy over the party member bulletin board) “Having a blushing face broadcast live can be disappointing to the public,” he said.
Even among neutral lawmakers, there is growing criticism that Representative Han should clearly explain the ‘party member bulletin board controversy’ and put an end to it. “If a factional civil war with no exit is prolonged instead of identifying the actual truth and finding a solution, Representative Han’s leadership and the entire ruling party could suffer a serious blow.” Rep
Ahn Cheol-soo said, “If Representative Han’s family was involved, it would be resolved if Representative Han gave the family a stern warning and apologized for causing concern, but I don’t know why they’re dragging it out in such a complicated way.”
It was also pointed out that Chin Yoon-gye’s intention in raising suspicions was unclear. A four-term neutral lawmaker who requested anonymity said, “The pro-Yoon group is shaking Representative Han excessively, but they should not go too far. “Instead of talking about having to step down from the position of representative, we should focus on uncovering the substantive truth that the people are curious about,” he said.
There were also voices pointing out the prosecutor-style political style. A neutral Daegu/Gyeongbuk (TK) re-elected lawmaker said, “The public is curious about whether Representative Han’s family is involved in the party member bulletin board controversy,” and “A prosecutor investigates and punishes, but politics is about answering the public’s questions. “It needs to be resolved,” he said.
Concerns were also raised that the ruling party’s presence is not visible in the competition between the ruling and opposition parties for leadership in people’s livelihoods. They say that we should not rely only on Representative Lee’s judicial risks, and that the ruling party, which is responsible for running state affairs, should actively take care of the people’s livelihood. Rep. Kim Seung-soo, who was re-elected by TK, said, “Government ministries and the party policy committee should share roles and take the lead on policy issues, but the opposition party is moving in unison and we are not in a situation like that.”
There were also voices calling for reaching out to the public with sincerity rather than a ‘show-off’ event. Former lawmaker Kim, who served as the floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party (now the People Power Party), said, “If the policies for the people’s livelihood are buried due to conflicting politics within the party and the party, the white medicine is invalid.” A re-elected lawmaker from the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (PK) regions said, “The People Power Party receives a lot of criticism for being a well-being party with vested interests. Instead of just emphasizing the livelihood of the people, we go to the actual sites to feel how difficult it is for the people’s livelihood and come up with sincere policies.” “You have to give it up,” he pointed out. Another first-term lawmaker with a neutral stance in the PK region said, “It’s really foolish to say that we can win if we just capture Representative Lee Jae-myung,” and added, “The ruling party leadership must show its ability to implement policies for the people’s livelihood.”
Voices for resolving the issue of First Lady Kim Kun-hee also remained the same. Rep. Kim Yong-tae said, “In order to resolve various reform tasks and people’s livelihood issues, we need to restore the approval rating and find momentum,” and added, “The remaining task for the ruling party is how to fairly handle Ms. Kim’s issue.”
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What are the main challenges currently facing the People Power Party as highlighted in the interview between the Time.news Editor and the Political Analyst?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Political Analyst
Time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome, thank you for joining us today. There’s a lot of turbulence happening within the People Power Party (PPP) following recent events. Can you give us a brief overview of what’s unfolding?
Expert (E): Absolutely! Right now, the PPP is facing significant internal strife. Following the acquittal of Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, the PPP has been engulfed in what some are calling a “civil war.” There are serious questions about the party’s direction and leadership, especially regarding the controversy over allegations that Representative Han Dong-hoon’s family wrote defamatory comments on a party member bulletin board.
TNE: It seems like the party is not only dealing with this bulletin board issue but also a larger crisis concerning its public image and effectiveness. Some members have spoken out about the party being bogged down by internal conflicts. What are the implications of this for the PPP’s ability to serve the public?
E: Quite critical, actually. As noted by Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, the political energy is being wasted on these internal struggles rather than addressing the pressing issues facing the citizens. There are fears that focusing too much on intra-party conflicts could alienate the electorate, especially when the public is experiencing challenges in their daily lives.
TNE: You mentioned concerns about the party’s inability to rely solely on negativity aimed at the opposition. How do you interpret that sentiment among lawmakers?
E: Many lawmakers, including Rep. Kim Yong-tae, have recognized a growing dissatisfaction among constituents. They’re saying that merely focusing on Lee Jae-myeong’s legal issues won’t suffice; the party needs to demonstrate its capability in governance and reform. If the party continues to neglect its responsibilities to the public, it risks serious backlash.
TNE: We’ve also observed calls for Representative Han to clarify the bulletin board issue. What are the expectations from party members regarding transparency?
E: Exactly, there’s a push for more accountability. A few legislators have suggested that if Representative Han’s family is indeed involved, he should acknowledge it publicly and address it directly. It highlights a desire for honesty and openness rather than deflection or prolonged ambiguity. If the party doesn’t provide answers, it could result in a deeper erosion of trust from both the public and its own members.
TNE: There’s a clear divide within the party factions, particularly between pro-Han and pro-Yoon groups. How could this impact the party moving forward?
E: Well, these factional divides present a fundamental challenge. Disunity can weaken policy-making and create a perception of instability. If the party is preoccupied with internal battles instead of presenting a united front to tackle national issues, it could lead to decreased approval ratings and loss of confidence among voters.
TNE: what steps do you think the PPP should take to regain public trust and effectively address the livelihood needs of citizens?
E: They need to prioritize transparent communication and make it clear that they are responsive to public concerns. Engaging with communities, not just through policy announcements but genuine visits and listening sessions, would be a productive way forward. The party should shift its focus from internal disputes to developing tangible policies that resonate with the needs of the people.
TNE: Thank you for these insights. It seems clear that the road ahead for the People Power Party is fraught with challenges, but there are also opportunities for meaningful engagement with the electorate. We appreciate your time.
E: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure discussing these important topics.