PPP Leadership Race Fails to Attract Attention Amid Mudslinging
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Loading... - Aoi Shimizu
- 22 Jul 2024
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The ongoing leadership race in South Korea's ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been characterized by negative campaigning and personal attacks, which appears to be alienating both party members and the general public. As the race heads towards the national convention on Tuesday, there are concerns that voter turnout may be lower than expected.
Key Players and Dynamics
Former interim leader Han Dong-hoon remains the frontrunner despite facing intense attacks from his rivals: five-term lawmakers Rep. Na Kyung-won and Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, and former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong.
- Han Dong-hoon: Han has been leading the race but has faced concentrated criticism from the other candidates. On Monday, he sought support in Gyeonggi Province, a key region for the party.
- Rep. Na Kyung-won: Na campaigned in the southeastern Gyeongsang region and criticized Han as being unqualified for the role of party leader, suggesting he focuses too much on image politics.
- Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun: Yoon held a press conference addressing the opposition's push for an impeachment inquiry into President Yoon Suk Yeol, using the opportunity to criticize Han and Won for their perceived presidential ambitions.
- Won Hee-ryong: Won campaigned in Busan and also targeted Han, accusing him of being a liar and lacking camaraderie.
Regional Influence
The final campaign rallies focused on regions with significant voting power:
- Gyeonggi Province: Accounts for about 37% of the party's membership.
- Gyeongsang Province: Home to about 40% of the party's members and has long been influential in party leadership races.
Combined with the Seoul metropolitan area, these regions represent more than 80% of the ruling party members, making them crucial in determining the party leadership outcome.
Voter turnout among party members was reported at 45.98%, which is 7.15 percentage points lower than the turnout on the final day of last year's PPP National Convention. This decline in participation could be attributed to the negative tone of the campaign.
Candidates' Final Appeals
Han Dong-hoon urged party members to participate in the election, emphasizing the importance of their choice for the future of the party and the country. Meanwhile, Na and Won focused their final efforts on Busan and Daegu, respectively, while Yoon remained active in Seoul.
The leadership race has thus far been marred by mutual attacks, with each candidate vying to undermine the others' credibility. As the convention approaches, the outcome remains uncertain, and the effectiveness of the candidates' strategies will soon be tested.
