People Power Party Retreats From Full Direct Elections for Local Party Chairs

The People Power Party has stepped back from its plan to elect new chairs across all 254 local party organizations, choosing a phased approach that begins with vacant posts.

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We decided to introduce member direct elections gradually and in stages, reflecting internal views expressed recently, including at the lawmakers’ meeting.

The party’s Supreme Council decided on Aug. 31 to reopen applications for the 34 organizations currently designated as vacant. If multiple candidates apply, members will directly elect the new chair. Other organizations will continue using the existing selection process for now.

The party will then conduct its regular party-affairs audit. Member evaluations must account for at least half of the assessment, and organizations identified as needing a change will go through another chair-selection process based on member voting.

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This year’s selection of local party chairs will follow the usual method, while greatly expanding members’ opportunities to participate through applications for vacant organizations and party-affairs audits.

Secretary-General Chung Hee-yong said the party had reflected internal views expressed at recent lawmakers’ meetings and decided to introduce direct elections gradually. He said the future model would reflect both party members’ views and public sentiment.

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Direct elections have therefore been set as a two-stage, gradual implementation, rather than a full implementation.

The leadership had originally pursued the full re-election of local party chairs after their terms ended in late August. Chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said the revised plan passed unanimously at the Supreme Council, with no member raising an objection.

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The proposal passed unanimously. No member of the Supreme Council submitted a dissenting view.