Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Yoon's ex-staff seek nominations in PPP strongholds, defying reform efforts
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a meeting with his senior secretaries at a park near his office in Seoul, Oct. 16. Defying efforts to improve and revitalize the governing People Power Party ahead of the general elections in April, many former presidential office staff members appear to be seeking nominations in the party’s longtime strongholds. Courtesy of Presidential Office
By Jung Min-ho
Innovation committee at crossroads as establishment refuses to concede
Defying efforts to improve and revitalize the governing People Power Party (PPP) ahead of the general elections, many former staff members of President Yoon Suk Yeol appear to be seeking nominations in the party’s longtime strongholds.
After a major reshuffle of secretaries and other officials at the presidential office last week, word is spreading that as many as 30 of them will join the competition for PPP nominations for the elections scheduled to be held on April 10.
Kang Sung-kyu, former senior secretary for civil and social agenda, made it official that he is running for Hongseong-Yesan in South Chungcheong Province, a constituency held by a PPP lawmaker. Ju Jin-woo, former secretary for legal affairs, is said to consider running for Busan Suyeong County, another constituency represented by a PPP lawmaker. Former state affairs planning secretary Kang Myung-gu is also known to consider running in Gumi, the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee and the key bastion of Korean conservatism.
Only a few, such as former press secretary Kim Eun-hye, are believed to be preparing to run in areas where they cannot be sure of winning.
It is not unusual for former presidential office staff members to pursue political careers in so-called “comfort zones” by taking advantage of their connection to the president. But given that such moves would be deemed as a blatant ignorance of the efforts of a PPP reform committee, their decisions may hurt the party’s image and chances of winning, according to experts on Tuesday.
“They seem to be going in the opposition direction of what the reform committee demands,” Hong Hyeong-sik, a political analyst, told The Korea Times.
“For a party as a whole, this doesn't help attract undecided voters … If many feel that the PPP is not willing to change and is using Ihn Yo-han (chief of the reform committee) as just a diversion, such sentiment would certainly affect the election results.”
When it was launched on Oct. 23, the reform committee drew much attention and praise from both within and outside the PPP. Ihn, a naturalized Korean citizen and doctor with four generations of close ties to the country, said the 13 members of the committee, including himself, who are mostly people with no experience in politics, symbolized “changes to come.”
But the efforts have been losing steam after the committee proposed that senior lawmakers and those close to the president should run in swing constituencies instead of the PPP’s traditional strongholds. No progress has been made since as the establishment refuses to give in.
Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, chairman of the People Power Party, is surrounded by reporters at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Meanwhile, criticism is growing within the PPP, with signs of division and even breakup.
Lee Jun-seok, 38, former chief of the PPP, said he would launch a new party by the end of this month if the establishment continues to concede. Many worry that voters see his departure as a symbolic one ― the exodus of millennials and Generation Z.
But it may be too premature to conclude that he will leave, said experts.
Speaking to reporters on Monday after the Yoon administration’s announcement to replace six Cabinet members, Land Minister Won Hee-ryong said he would join the efforts to unite the party, saying the PPP should focus more on how to convincingly convey its messages to more ― not fewer ― swing voters. He also said the party should embrace Lee.
According to party officials, the reform committee plans to ask the PPP leadership to accept its proposal about the primary election rules ― again on Thursday.
Another rejection by the party would leave the committee with practically no options other than disbanding itself before the end of its two-month term, which could be viewed as the PPP’s reform failure.