Yoo Seong-min, a former four-term lawmaker, announced Sunday that he would skip the presidential primaries. He criticized the People Power Party and cited growing frustration over the conservative party crisis.
Instead of running within the party, Yoo may pursue a presidential bid independently or align with another political group. He made his statement public through a Facebook post that drew national attention.
Yoo, known for his center-right stance, said the party showed no signs of self-reflection. He emphasized that the party failed to change course after enduring two presidential impeachments in under ten years.
Yoo pointed out that both impeached presidents — Park Geun-hye in 2017 and Yoon Suk Yeol in 2025 — came from the same conservative bloc. He accused the party of ignoring public disappointment and internal accountability.
He expressed shock at the leadership’s lack of urgency and desire for reform. Yoo claimed the party seemed more interested in maintaining internal power than winning the presidential election.
“The conservative party is shrinking because it continues to reject centrists,” Yoo added. He warned that this narrow focus could further isolate voters.
Despite Yoo’s exit, several conservative figures, including Ahn Cheol-soo, plan to stay in the primary race. Ahn agreed with some of Yoo’s criticisms but said he would continue participating in the People Power Party’s nomination process.
Yoo’s political career spans from 2004 to 2020. He previously ran for president in 2017 under the Bareun Party but earned just 6.8 percent of the vote. He withdrew from the 2022 race before voting began.
In the latest Gallup Korea poll, Yoo’s support stood at 1 percent. Lee Jae-myung led with 39 percent, followed by Kim Moon-soo at 9 percent and Hong Joon-pyo at 5 percent.
The conservative party crisis now enters a new phase. Yoo’s departure could fracture the party further and weaken its position before the election. With rising public dissatisfaction, the conservative party crisis continues to dominate political headlines.
