Main opposition enjoys high support rate after electing young leader
Lee Jun-seok, right, the new chairman of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), sheds tears while talking with a bereaved family member of the 2010 sinking accident of ROK naval ship of Cheonan, during his visit to the Daejeon National Cemetery, Monday. Lee started his first official schedule as the party leader by visiting the national cemetery, three days after his election at the party convention. Yonhap
By Jung Da-min
The election of a young new leader is giving a boost to the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), with it seeing the highest gains in support in years and positive signs of a potential “conservative big tent” to counter the liberal ruling bloc ahead of next March's presidential election.
Public attention to the rise of the 36-year-old Lee Jun-seok and his victory at the party convention is pushing the party's support rate. According to a survey of 2,512 adults conducted last week by local pollster Realmeter, and released Monday, 39.1 percent of respondents said they supported the PPP, while 29.2 percent said were behind the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)
Political watchers believe the PPP has succeeded in responding to the growing public calls for change and innovation in politics by electing the youngest-ever party chairman, and it is now being recognized by the public as an alternative political force that could hold the supermajority DPK in check. Even before Lee's rise, the DPK was already losing public support due to corruption and land speculation scandals involving high-profile government officials and party members.
After his election, Lee showed some unconventional, non-bureaucratic moves. On Sunday, he rode to his office at the National Assembly on a Ttareungyi bike, one of Seoul's bike sharing systems. On Monday, Lee started his first official day as the opposition leader by visiting the Daejeon National Cemetery to pay tribute to patriots ― an unusual move for a political party leader, most of whom usually visit the Seoul National Cemetery. There, Lee met with bereaved family members of victims of North Korea's 2010 sinking of the ROK Naval ship Cheonan, and shed tears while talking to them.
He selected Rep. Hwangbo Seung-hee as a spokeswoman. Along with electing the chairman, the party also selected five other Supreme Council members, of whom three were women ― a very rare gender upswing in Korea's politics which is still dominated by men.
The high support rate and public expectation for him to bring change to the party is increasing the PPP's chances of winning in the presidential election.
Main opposition People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok, center, presides over a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
In addition, the chances of the party forming a “conservative big tent,” by inviting minor conservative opposition parties or strong potential presidential contenders to join it, are growing.
On Saturday, a day after winning the chairmanship race, Lee met minor opposition People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo.
In the April 7 by-elections, Ahn, who was one of strong candidates for Seoul mayor post, gave up his bid and instead supported PPP candidate Oh Se-hoon to form an alliance to win against ruling DPK hopeful Park Young-sun. Oh was elected mayor, and since then there has been speculation the parties may merge before the presidential election, although the two have different opinions on how to do this.
Lee and Ahn, both residents of Nowon District in northern Seoul, had an hour-long conversation at a coffeehouse, according to officials of the parties.
Later Lee told reporters that they had a good talk in a friendly atmosphere, and confirmed the need for a merger.
Lee also received a text message of congratulation from former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, who has been topping polls of presidential candidates in recent months following his resignation from the top prosecution job in early March after clashing with President Moon Jae-in over prosecutorial “reform.”
Yoon has been meeting multiple PPP lawmakers recently, which political watchers say could be a signal that he is considering joining the main opposition party.