(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporters Kwon Hee-won, Noh Seon-woong, and Jo Daun = After Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was found not guilty on appeal, the competition for leadership within the conservative camp between People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, Mayor Oh, and independent leader Han Dong-hoon intensified, drawing attention to the People Power Party's next national convention on the 1st.
The observation is that as the next party leader exercises the right to nominate candidates for the 2028 general election, which is to be held ahead of the 2030 presidential election, the three people who differ in their political lines and support base will inevitably face off directly or indirectly.
◇ Will Wu and Korea be appointed as proxy candidates for Zhang’s bid for a second term? Pay attention to movements within the party
In particular, as it becomes clear that CEO Jang will run for a second term, the movements of Mayor Oh and Assemblyman Han are also attracting attention.
First of all, in the case of Rep. Han, it appears that he will focus on 'reform and conservative solidarity' and carefully look at the timing of starting discussions on reinstatement.
In a phone call with Yonhap News, re-elected lawmaker Chin-gye Han said, “We need to make an effort to get lawmaker Han reinstated.”
However, as long as Representative Jang's system is maintained, there are many predictions that reinstatement to the party before the next national convention is unlikely.
Representative Jang appeared on MBN that day and once again drew the line, saying, "As long as I am in the leadership, it is not yet the time to discuss the issue of reinstatement, and there are no conditions for discussing it. Therefore, it is not appropriate to even discuss or bring up reinstatement at this time."
However, regarding conservative unity and solidarity in general, Representative Jang said, "There will be a time when unity and solidarity are necessary," and "We will achieve such unity and solidarity by gathering the will of party members at the necessary time, within the necessary scope, and in the necessary manner."
When asked about his intention to run for a second term as party leader, he replied, "The party members and the people will decide on the leaders needed for the mission of the times, and I think it is right to follow that decision. I have no intention of avoiding responsibility if necessary."
Meanwhile, there is already a view within the party that Assemblyman Han, along with Mayor Oh, who is restricted from directly running for the national convention as mayor of Seoul, may nominate a proxy candidate for the national convention.
Within the party, attention is focused on five-term lawmakers Kim Ki-hyeon and Yoon Sang-hyun, who have been named as co-hosts of a debate held at the National Assembly next week on the topic of party reform.
Among these, Rep. Kim was the first to reach out immediately after Rep. Han was elected, proposing to join the National Assembly research group of which he was the representative.
In the case of Representative Yoon, he is also working closely with Mayor Oh, being the only incumbent member of the National Assembly to visit the court even during Mayor Oh's appeal hearing.
Some say that former lawmakers Yoo Seung-min and Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo, who have a good relationship with Mayor Oh, may form a strategic alliance with Mayor Oh and challenge the party leadership.
There is also the possibility that lawmakers Cho Eun-hee and Kim Jae-seop, who are key members of the 'pro-Oh faction', will play a significant role as Mayor Oh's support group.
Mayor Oh appeared on TV Chosun's 'Strong Enemies' the previous day and said, "We have to fight against an absolute monarch, so we all have to work together," and added, "I think there is no one we can't meet and no one we can't join forces with, not only Assemblyman Han but also CEO Jang."
Next, regarding Rep. Lee Jun-seok's recent public criticism of a lawmaker, he said, "Some people are saying that the reason Rep. Lee Jun-seok is acting like that is because Oh Se-hoon gave him an unspoken hint, or something like that. I hope there are no misunderstandings," and added, "Rep. Lee is not the kind of person who listens to what I say."
Within the party, attention is also focused on the movements of the 'anti-Jang Dong-hyuk and non-Han Dong-hoon' leading groups.
This is because they have been in a 'wait-and-see situation' mode without revealing a clear direction, but if they move, the flow of public opinion within the party could change.
In addition, there is also a growing argument that a person who will not run for the presidency in 2030 should be in charge of the nomination for the 2028 general election in order to make a 'disinterested' nomination, and that a person with factional 'neutrality' tendencies among the leading figures should be appointed as the next representative.
A party official said, "The next party leadership is an important momentum that any presidential candidate must maintain," and added, "The movement to seek solidarity between leading figures and presidential candidates will continue in one way or another."
◇ Right after April or August next year... Pay attention to the timing of the next subletting
As interest in the next party leadership competition increases, the timing of the national convention is also attracting attention.
Inside and outside the party, the prevailing view is that the national convention will be held immediately after the by-election in April next year or in August, when Representative Jang's term ends.
According to the party constitution and party regulations, if the remaining term of office of the incumbent leader is more than six months, the remaining term must be filled even if a new leader is appointed. However, from February of next year, when the remaining term of office of the incumbent leader is less than six months, if the leadership becomes vacant, a national convention can be held immediately without an emergency response committee to elect a party leader whose term is guaranteed.
For this reason, there is speculation that an early national convention may be held if pressure from non-party factions on the current leadership to resign becomes stronger around the by-elections in April next year, or if Representative Jang decides to take action with the aim of seeking a second term.
On the other hand, if Representative Jang completes his two-year term as is, the national convention is expected to be held around August next year.
