The People Power Party launched the 'Hwang Woo-yeo Election Commission' on the 7th, transitioning to a presidential election system. Given that this is an early presidential election following the president's impeachment, evaluations suggest that they chose 'stability' over 'change.' They have also drawn a line against internal calls for breaking ties with former President Yoon Suk-yeol in order to expand their base.
On that morning, the People Power Party's emergency response meeting resolved to appoint former emergency response chair Hwang Woo-yeo, a party elder, as the chairperson of the presidential primary election management committee and select 10 election commission commissioners.
Commissioner Hwang, a former judge, is an elder of the party, having served as a member of the National Assembly during the 15th to 19th terms. He held positions as the representative of the New Frontier Party (formerly the People Power Party) and as Minister of Education during the Park Geun-hye administration. He is regarded as someone who has consistently led the party to stability during major elections or crises, serving as a relief pitcher. Commissioner Hwang served as the chairperson of the party's election management committee during the June 11 party convention in 2021 and led the emergency committee formed after the People Power Party's defeat in last year's general election.
The 10 election commissioners include the ex officio secretary-general Lee Yang-soo, as well as lawmakers Cho Eun-hee (Seocho-gu, Seoul), Cho Ji-yeon (Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk), Lee Sang-hwi (Pohang, Gyeongbuk), and Park Jun-tae (proportional representation), in addition to outside members such as Jeon Ju-hye, chairperson of the Gangdong-gu People Power Party, Spokesperson Ho Jun-seok, former emergency committee member Lee So-hee, Central Youth Committee Director Kim Chae-soo, and Media Department Director Park Geon-hee. Among the five lawmakers, excluding the three-term secretary-general Lee and the two-term lawmaker Cho, there are three first-term members.
A party official analyzed, “The fact that many members are composed of first-term representatives and outside members suggests a desire to maintain 'status quo.'” According to the People Power Party's constitution, the presidential candidate is selected based on the valid vote results of the presidential election group, with 50% from the vote results and 50% from opinion polls. While figures like former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min are demanding the introduction of open primaries (complete public primaries, 100% opinion polls), considering the profiles of the election commissioners, it is likely that the existing primary rules will be maintained rather than applied with innovative rules.
The People Power Party has stated that their policy is to presently maintain 'status quo' in relation to former President Yoon. Following the decision to impeach former President Yoon, voices in the party have emerged, stating that “(Former President Yoon) directly undermined the values of conservatism and flatly denied the party's constitution (lawmaker Kim Sang-wook)” and “The party should show a firm stance that it cannot align with those who have unconstitutional thoughts (lawmaker Cho Gyeong-tae).
However, chief spokesperson Shin dismissed this sentiment when speaking with reporters on the same day, saying, “It is not the mainstream sentiment that we must sort out our relationship with the president.” The Central Ethics Committee of the party, which discusses disciplinary actions such as 'expulsion' of party members, reportedly plans not to hold meetings until the presidential election. The party leadership, which has tried to rally conservative support by linking the military coup crisis to the Democratic Party's 'legislative dictatorship,' appears to be unable to suddenly change its position.
Lawmaker Song Seok-jun (Icheon, Gyeonggi Province) said in a phone call with ChosunBiz, “The party has struggled to protect former President Yoon, and while he has issues, many citizens see him as the vanguard who fought against the opposition's tyranny.” He also noted, “If we treat this as a domestic battle, the party is likely to be turned away by the public.”