Three Candidates for National Assembly Leader Clash Over Party Direction

Kim Do-eup and Sung Il-jong, candidates for the next National Assembly leader from the People Power Party, emphasized the need for a change in party direction, while Jung Jeom-sik focused on internal unity.

On June 9, first- and second-term lawmakers held a meeting at the National Assembly to hear the candidates' evaluations of the June 3 local elections, their causes, and future strategies, followed by a question-and-answer session.

In his opening remarks, Kim Do-eup highlighted the need for a shift in the party's direction, stating, "I will make this a party that no longer hears the term 'pro-Yoon (Yoon Suk Yeol) party.'"

He added, "If our party had responded to public sentiment and the requests of many lawmakers by changing its direction, more comrades could have had the opportunity to work for national and local development alongside electoral victories. I am running for the National Assembly leader to change the party's image and lay the groundwork for my successor to lead the next general election to a resounding victory."

Sung Il-jong also expressed the necessity for change, stating, "The registration for preliminary candidates for the National Assembly begins on December 14 next year. We have very little time. We must present ourselves as a clear opposition party to restore hope to the public. Otherwise, we will face a crushing defeat in the 2028 elections."

He stressed the importance of sending a clear signal to the public that the party is changing through the National Assembly leader election, stating, "Now is not the time for factional battles between pro-Han (Han Dong-hoon) and pro-Yoon (Yoon Suk Yeol) factions. They must disappear."

Sung also promised, "If I become the National Assembly leader, I will thoroughly reform the Yeouido Institute, transforming it into a dynamic organization where youth and women thrive, and I will change the party's rules so that the top candidate becomes the party leader, while the second, third, and fourth place candidates join the Supreme Council to ensure it earns the public's trust and can work effectively."

Jung Jeom-sik, classified as a party establishment figure, emphasized the need to rebuild public trust and unify the party's fragmented strength, stating, "Restoring the public's trust and unifying our internal strength is a pressing task that the People Power Party and the National Assembly leader must accomplish now."

He noted, "While rigorous analysis and healthy criticism are necessary to find a way forward for the party, we must ensure that the intense deliberations over resignation or recovery do not lead to further division among us."

Jung asserted, "The public's stern mandate is to prevent the arrogant unilateralism of the ruling party and to fulfill the role of a minority opposition party that provides checks and balances. Upholding this public sentiment, the path to our resurgence lies in restoring public trust and achieving solid internal unity."