Big-name outcasts begin to position themselves for upcoming general election

Former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min of the ruling People Power Party speaks during a forum in Daegu, Jan. 11. Newsis.

By Nam Hyun-woo

High-profile outcasts from major parties are gearing up for next year's general election with swing voters on the rise.

Speculation is growing that such politicians may create their own parties as a way to make an impact in the upcoming election, scheduled for April 10, 2024.

During a radio interview with broadcaster KBS, July 31, former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min of the conservative People Power Party said he is considering every possibility for his next political move, including running for the election as an independent candidate or creating his own political party.

Yoo, a four-term lawmaker and a former presidential candidate of the now defunct center-right Bareun Mirae Party, has been openly criticizing President Yoon Suk Yeol and the leadership of the PPP and said that he is not thinking of running for the election as a PPP candidate.

“I don't think I can get a candidate recommendation (from the PPP), because I am a pain in the neck for them,” Yoo said. “And I have no intention of begging for a nomination either.”

Former People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok speaks during an interview with The Korea Times on Feb. 24. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Former PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok is also flexing his muscles for the upcoming general election.

Lee on July 28 created his YouTube channel “Yeouido Renewal,” referring to Yeouido Island in Seoul where the National Assembly is located. He began streaming political content along with Chun Ha-ram, who became popular for his comments, which were critical of the president.

Lee was ousted from the PPP chairmanship last year due to allegations of misconduct, following what appeared to be a power struggle with President Yoon. He is widely expected to run for the election in his constituency of Nowon in Seoul, but some pundits speculate that Lee might run as an independent candidate in Daegu.

The PPP is not welcoming their election bid. PPP Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae said in a radio interview with broadcaster YTN that “the expression of Yeouido Renewal may sound arrogant given that Lee has never been elected as a lawmaker.”

Among fringe groups of the PPP, however, there are also murmurs that the party should embrace Yoo and Lee for the sake of election victory.

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo said in an interview with YTN that “the party has to be one-team in order to win the election” and “we should make efforts to prevent internal discord related to recommending candidates in order to maintain stability within the party.”

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, a long-time presidential hopeful who was recently suspended from his party membership for playing golf while the country was suffering from heavy downpours, also wrote on his Facebook profile on July 30 that “even though I was sidelined from the general election, the party should embrace Lee and Yoo.”

Former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon, right, poses with current DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung before their dinner at a restaurant in Seoul, July 28. Courtesy of DPK

Within the main opposition progressive Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), former Chairman Lee Nak-yon is gaining attention regarding his next move.

The former chairman recently had a meeting with the current Chairman Lee Jae-myung on July 28 and agreed to attend to the party's unity before the general election, but showed a difference of opinion about how to achieve it.

During the dinner, the former chairman stressed that audacious innovation is required to reinvigorate the party, saying “The DPK's innovation should start by restoring its morality and democracy within the party.” The remark was interpreted as an attack against the existing leadership.

Though the former chairman is yet to make a move related to the general election, speculations are lingering over a potential split from the DPK, as the current leadership is showing signs of changing the rules for candidate recommendations in the general election in favor of those who are close to current Chairman Lee.

Among former DPK members, former lawmaker Keum Tae-seop and Rep. Yang Hyang-ja have already set up organizing committees for their own political parties.

The big-shot politicians' moves are in line with the recent rise in the number of people who said they don't support any of the two major parties.

According to Gallup Korea's weekly surveys, the ratio of voters who said they don't support any political party hovered at over 30 percent throughout last month, with that of the latest July 25-27 survey standing at 31 percent.

Of respondents from the latest survey, 50 percent of those aged between 18 and 29 said they don't support any political parties, while those in their 30s stood at 42 percent. Among regions, highly populated areas of Seoul, Busan and Gyeonggi Province showed a high tendency of not supporting any party.

The July 25-27 poll surveyed 1,002 adults and further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission's website.