The People Power Party will significantly eliminate entertainment elements in the second presidential primary debate. This decision comes after criticism from both inside and outside the party, which noted that the first group debate not only ridiculed the presidential candidates but also deviated from its original purpose of verifying the candidates.

Lee Cheol-woo (from left), Na Kyung-won, Hong Joon-pyo, and Han Dong-hoon, the People Power Party presidential primary candidates, are taking a commemorative photo at the Group B debate of the first round of the 21st presidential candidate primary held at ASSA Art Hall in Gangseo-gu, Seoul on Jun. 20. /Courtesy of News1

A key official from the People Power Party's election management committee noted to ChosunBiz on the 21st that "the 'The fist cries' segment will be removed from the one-on-one leadership debate featuring the four candidates who advance to the primary."

Originally, the People Power Party was planning to add entertainment elements to the 'One-on-One Leadership Debate' (targeting the four candidates advancing to the second primary) scheduled for the 24th to 25th. This format borrows from the entertainment program 'Freedom Declaration! The fist cries,' which selects specific candidates for discussion.

However, following criticism that the debate had turned into a comedy show, the party decided to retract its benchmarking approach. Spokesperson Ho Jun-seok mentioned after the election committee meeting that he was "listening to the concerns regarding the ridicule of the primary and will make a comprehensive judgment during the process."

Earlier, the People Power Party promoted the slogan 'A primary created by 20s youth and running with the people,' incorporating entertainment elements like a one-minute self-introduction, a self-introduction based on the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), and balance games in this primary debate.

Despite concerns from both inside and outside the party before the debate began that it was inappropriate for an election occurring after a martial law and impeachment, the People Power Party simply stated that "entertainment elements are merely supplementary."

As of the morning of that day, the party positively evaluated the entertainment elements of the primary debate, stating that "balance games and MBTI provided good information for the public (regarding the candidates)."

However, after the conclusion of the first primary debate, criticism intensified, leading to a revision of strategy. Even within the youth organization of the People Power Party, there were strong concerns that "now is the time to be serious."

In particular, the candidates in the presidential primary also did not hide their discomfort with the 'entertainment-type primary debate.' During the balance game segment of the first primary debate in group B on the previous day (20th), the question of "being reborn as a cockroach vs. being born as a car tire" was even raised as a 'practice problem.'

Candidates Hong Joon-pyo and Na Kyung-won responded with stern expressions, saying, "I don't like either," and, "I don't want to answer."

Ahn Cheol-soo also expressed concerns openly, stating after the completion of the group A debate on the 19th that "if it had been conducted like a normal debate, it could have been discussed more deeply in terms of policy." Candidate Kim Moon-soo also noted, "Wouldn't it have been better if we had taken more time for thorough and in-depth discussions?"

Han Dong-hoon also commented in a live broadcast on the 18th regarding the party's way of conducting the primary debate, saying, "I'm grateful and pleased with the fun preparations made by the youth and the party," but added, "Basically, isn't this an election that started with martial law? From our party's perspective, we should show a sincere attitude to the public, but isn't it being somewhat trivialized?" A key official from his camp reported that he mentioned to those around him after the first group B debate that he felt disappointed with the insufficient debate time among candidates.

A political insider pointed out regarding the People Power Party's entertainment-style primary that, "What the public demands is reflection, introspection, and innovation, but it seems the party does not know what the people want. They appear to have little awareness of the problem. They are actively cultivating negative feelings from the moderate faction."