Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo expressed their agreement with the notion that former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min's declaration of non-participation in the presidential primary is understandable.
On the 13th, former leader Han stated on his social media service (SNS), “Following Mayor Oh Se-hoon, former lawmaker Yoo has made a significant decision. I deeply respect that intention,” and added, “I will remain in the tiger's den and fight to capture the tiger of ‘party renewal and political reform.’”
Lawmaker Ahn also noted, “I empathize with former lawmaker Yoo's deep concerns. The appearance of merely settling for our vested interests, rather than self-reflection and introspection, will only lead to greater disappointment for the public,” and stated, “We must rebuild the collapsed conservatism and ensure the survival of a free Republic of Korea.”
The People Power Party will maintain the ‘100% public opinion poll’ rule in its first cutoff (preliminary election) while applying a reverse selection prevention clause. This clause allows only supporters of the People Power Party and respondents from the non-affiliated category to answer, with the responses of supporters from other parties not being counted. It was established to prevent supporters from competing parties from deliberately selecting the weakest candidates of the People Power Party.
In response, former lawmaker Yoo declared his intention not to participate in the primary. On that day, he stated, “Despite the consecutive impeachments of conservative presidents, the party is refusing to take the necessary path of reflection and change,” and added, “I am furious at the reality of accepting inevitable defeat in the presidential election and the cling to vested interests after the defeat.”