Friday marked a turning point for the People Power Party as President Yoon Suk Yeol was formally removed from office. The Constitutional Court issued an 8-0 ruling in favor of his impeachment, echoing a similar event in 2017 when President Park Geun-hye was ousted. Now, the People Power Party faces a new challenge: navigating life after Yoon’s presidency.
At a meeting on Sunday with all 108 party lawmakers, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the party’s floor leader, made a clear statement. He emphasized that the downfall of Yoon should not define the party’s future. “The presidential election is just two months away. We don’t have time to waste, but we cannot afford to lose,” Kweon said.
The People Power Party now faces a delicate balancing act. It must distance itself from the disgraced president while avoiding alienating his passionate supporters. A small group of lawmakers, including Reps. Na Kyung-won and Yoon Sang-hyun, have strongly backed Yoon up until the end. Yet, party leadership has remained cautious and neutral, not openly supporting or criticizing the former president.
In his first written statement after stepping down, Yoon expressed gratitude to his supporters. “Although I have stepped down from the presidency, I will always stand by your side,” he said, making no reference to the court’s decision to remove him.
On Friday evening, Yoon met with People Power Party leaders. According to Rep. Shin Dong-uk, Yoon expressed hope for a conservative win in the upcoming election.
Recent polls indicate that the Democratic Party of Korea is likely to secure victory. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, is currently leading in the race, though he also holds the title of being the most “unlikable” candidate in some surveys.
The People Power Party has already started campaigning against Lee, focusing on his legal troubles. They argue his criminal cases make him unfit to lead. The outcome of one of Lee’s legal cases will be decided by early June, possibly aligning with Election Day.
One People Power Party lawmaker told The Korea Herald, “We cannot let Lee Jae-myung, with all his criminal cases and extremism, take charge of this country.”
