The People Power Party (PPP) has decided to base candidate nominations for the June 3 local elections primarily on nationwide party member primary votes, marking a shift following the first-trial verdict in former leader Yoon Suk Yeol’s inner-party violation case.
Strategic Nomination Approach
Party officials indicate that a full transition to a member-preference nomination model remains unlikely. Factors include ties with Yoon’s aides, candidate selection processes, and supporter base sizes. Leadership received a fresh supporter analysis reports a Seoul-based firm on the 18th, outlining two scenarios. One scenario highlights a key term centered on “republic” as a core inclusion.
Upcoming Leadership Refresh
PPP plans to elect new figures for the Supreme Council, Central Committee, National Supreme Committee, and other roles within the next three weeks. Insiders describe this as a move to ease burdens from past leadership dynamics and launch a renewed direction. However, calls persist for seamless continuity with Yoon’s influence.
Key Statements from Prominent Figures
Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se Hoon stated during a January 14 MBN interview, “The president’s position is drawing closer to ‘Yoon ego-in’; this election determines if we can achieve it effectively.”
Former lawmaker Yoo Seung Min remarked in a major interview that “the party’s current blindness does not reflect a normal organization,” urging against rushed appointments.
Party leader Han Dong Hoon, in a Channel A interview on the 18th, emphasized, “Even considering connections, this transformation carries a critical sense of urgency to consolidate support as Yoon’s overhaul.” On January 16 during a Maeil Shinmun YouTube session, he added, “Sending people from one area to another ignores profound sentiments among members—no feelings can justify that.” He continued, “If counted insiders and other originals have become this election’s life model, that’s positive.”
In another broadcast appearance, Han noted, “The foundation for 6.3 local election success lies in the Seoul and Busan mayoral races.”
Stronghold in Daegu-Gyeongbuk
Supporter investigations confirm PPP’s dominance in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. Potential Supreme Council candidates include National Assembly Vice Chair Chu Kyung Ho, Yoon Jae Ok, Yoo Yeong Ha, Choi Eun Seok originals, former Party President Lee Jin Seok, former original Hong Seok Joon, and Daegu Dong-gu Mayor Lee Jae Man, among eight names.
Recent Opinion Polls
SBS and Ipsos polls from January 12-14 show Democratic Party support at 39% and PPP at 26% in Seoul. In Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, Democrats lead 37% to PPP’s 27%, a 10-point gap. (Source: Central Election Opinion Poll Review Committee homepage)
