Next floor leader seen as pivotal to party's post-election recovery and leadership dynamics; all three candidates stress conservative rebuilding; each takes different stance on Han Dong-hoon's return
Three People Power Party lawmakers — Kim Do-eup, Seong Il-jong and Jeong Jeom-sik — declared their candidacies Friday to succeed Song Eon-seog as the party's floor leader.
The PPP will elect its new floor leader at a general assembly of lawmakers on Tuesday.
The incoming floor leader is widely seen as a key figure in determining how the party navigates the fallout from calls for leadership accountability following its defeat in the June 3 local elections. There is also speculation that the new floor leader could double as emergency committee chair should party leader Jang Dong-hyeok step down, giving the position significant influence over the party's future leadership dynamics.
Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly on Friday afternoon, announcing his bid and pledging to "devote every ounce of strength to unifying a divided party and rebuilding a shattered conservative movement."
"The People Power Party received a stern verdict from the public in the June 3 local elections," he said. "We must regain the people's trust through change and reform, and rebuild the conservative movement in crisis by uniting a divided party."
On calls for party leader Jang to resign, Kim said Jang "will have an opportunity to reflect deeply on what the public wants from him" and added that he expected Jang to "make a wise decision."
On the question of readmitting former party leader Han Dong-hoon — who won a by-election as an independent — Kim said the situation had reached a point where "there is no choice but to accept it." He added that the broad conservative camp, including former leader Han, must unite to win the general election and the presidential election.
Seong also announced his candidacy Friday, saying he would "boldly push forward with party reform on a foundation of unity." He criticized the party's post-election posture, saying, "Look at how our party is behaving right after the election. The leadership is clinging to its entrenched interests rather than engaging in self-reflection. If we cannot break through this, the party's recovery will be impossible."
On calls for Jang to take responsibility for the June 3 local election results, Seong said Jang had "dedicated himself and worked hard," but that party officials "must soberly and accurately read the public sentiment expressed through the election and conduct themselves accordingly."
On independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, Seong called him "a strong asset to the free-market right" but said his readmission to the party "is not something to be rushed — the party constitution, rules and public opinion all need to be considered."
Jeong said the party now needed "leadership that unites the strength of all 110 members to propel the People Power Party forward to victory in the 23rd National Assembly election," adding, "I will be the floor leader who brings that strength together as one."
Asked about Han's possible return to the party, Jeong said it was "a matter that must be decided by listening to party members through a sufficient internal consultation process."
On calls within the party for Jang to step down, Jeong said the party "must not be seen dividing again over questions of whether the current leadership structure should continue or over the issue of readmission" during the floor leader race.
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