The People Power Party is hoping for a golden cross (reversal of approval ratings) at the last minute of the June 3 election. However, the fact that the unification with the Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok for moderate expansion has effectively fallen through has led many in the political sector to believe that the election landscape is not favorable.
The root of the problem is deep. A strategic miscalculation has accumulated throughout the election process due to the lack of a clear stance on former President Yoon Seok-youl's 'opposition to impeachment'.
The party's election committee appointed a chairperson born in 1990 and demanded the voluntary withdrawal of former President Yoon Seok-youl, stating, 'We have already crossed the river of martial law and impeachment.' However, the appointment of lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, who has been at the forefront of opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon, as co-chair of the election committee was insisted upon, saying, 'There is no one to lead the election.'
The noise continued until the day before the voting. Commissioner Kim Yong-tae suggested nullifying the adoption of the party line opposing the presidential impeachment. In response, Commissioner Yoon opposed it, saying, 'We must not cross the line that goes beyond the roots and identity of our party.' Commissioner Kim rebutted, 'The party line cannot be above the constitution. If this shakes the roots, then those roots can be uprooted.' This is the reason voters cannot grasp what the party's identity is.
The most fatal issue is that no one is taking responsibility. As responsibility claims arose, the party leadership imposed 'unity' by saying, 'Let's overcome small differences' and 'Let's demonstrate community spirit for victory in the presidential election.' It was the same during the unprecedented candidate replacement situation in the context of martial law and presidential impeachment last December. A party official expressed bitterness about the recent situation, saying, 'When veteran lawmakers set the party line, we cannot renew ourselves. Since everyone has made mistakes, no one is stepping down.'
The trajectory of candidate Kim Moon-soo's life, including his youth in the democratization movement, labor movement, and achievements as Gyeonggi Province governor, is commendable. Those who met Kim at the recent campaigning site shared heartfelt stories, recalling, 'He visited the market multiple times without an entourage to observe' and 'He reached out to marginalized Hansen people.' However, if the party does not clarify its identity concerning impeachment, the criticisms regarding the candidate's 'honesty' and 'competence' as well as the flaws of the opposing candidate will sound hollow.
What is needed now is a desperate awareness and determination of the grim reality that if defeated in the presidential election, the very existence of the conservative party may be threatened. The party must clarify its identity, and regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, the leadership must take responsibility for the martial law and impeachment, pledging to all step down to the second line after the election. Additionally, those in the opposing camp must promise a level of renewal that would have even those on the other side nodding in agreement. Breaking free from the framework of the 'Yeongnam party' and paying attention to the sentiment of voters in the metropolitan area, youth, and the unaffiliated will convey sincerity to voters.