People Power Party (South Korea)

The People Power Party (; PPP), formerly known as the United Future Party (; UFP), is a conservative political party in South Korea. Controlling the South Korean presidency, it is the second largest party in the National Assembly. PPP, along with its historic rival, the Democratic Party, make up the two largest political parties in South Korea.

The party was formed on 17 February 2020 by the merger of the Liberty Korea Party, New Conservative Party, and Onward for Future 4.0, as well as several minor parties and political organizations.

History

Background

Due to the political scandal in 2016, President Park Geun-hye was impeached, and several MPs quit the then-ruling Saenuri Party to form the Bareun Party. The Saenuri Party changed its name to the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), but following the final impeachment of Park on 10 March 2017, it ''de jure'' lost its ruling party position. After the Democratic presidential candidate Moon Jae-in was elected on 9 May, the LKP officially became the main opposition.

Although several Bareun MPs returned to the LKP, the LKP did not recover its support, losing ground in the 2018 local elections. Its president, Hong Jun-pyo, immediately resigned to take responsibility for the serious defeat. The Bareun Party, which had merged with the smaller centrist People's Party to form the Bareunmirae Party, also faced a defeat in the local elections.

The two conservative parties held snap leadership elections. On 2 September 2018, the Bareunmirae Party elected Sohn Hak-kyu as its new president. On 27 February 2019, the Liberty Korea Party elected former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn as its new leader. Lee Un-ju, a Bareunmirae MP, quit her party and was widely expected to join the LKP but formed a new party named Onward for Future 4.0. With the exit of the Bareunmirae Party's President Sohn, other former Bareun MPs faced conflicts and founded the New Conservative Party. As a "conservative union", the Liberty Korea Party, Onward for Future 4.0, and the New Conservative Party agreed to merge and establish a new party.

The new party's name was initially set as the Grand Unified New Party (Korean: 대통합신당), but soon changed to United Future Party (Korean: 미래통합당). Park Hyung-joon, who led the merger and re-foundation, explained that the name shows support for youths and political solidarity.

Founding congress

Following the merger and re-foundation of the 3 conservative parties into the United Future Party (UFP) on 17 February 2020, it elected the Liberty Korea Party's President Hwang Kyo-ahn as the new president. Though much of the UFP's leadership resembles that of the LKP, Vice-presidents Won Hee-ryong and Kim Young-hwan are not from the LKP.

The President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in and the Democratic Party Leader Lee Hae-chan congratulated the new party's founding, but the move was not welcomed by other members. Some sources reported that the party is planning to file a lawsuit against Moon.

Yoo Seong-min, the former Bareunmirae president, did not attend the founding congress. Yoo Young-ha, who is in support of Park Geun-hye, exited the LKP before the formation of the new party.

2020–2021

The party contested as an alliance with its sister satellite party, the Future Korea Party (FKP), in the 2020 elections. However, some UFP candidates provoked controversies for defamatory remarks, such as Cha Myong-jin and Kim Dae-ho.

The party was defeated in the election with some of the worst results historically for a conservative party in South Korea. The UFP won 103 out of 300 seats in the National Assembly, slightly over one-third of the seats. The party lost several key figures, including Oh Se-hoon, Na Kyung-won, Shim Jae-chul, and Kim Jin-tae. Party Leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, who contested for Jongno, was defeated by former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon. Hwang announced that he would stand down as the party president.

Following Hwang's resignation, it was reported that the party would temporarily establish the Emergency Planning Committee, led by Kim Chong-in. Several members, such as Kim Young-woo, disagreed with the establishment of the committee. Hong Jun-pyo, who showed an intention to return to the UFP, also opposed the proposal and revealed Kim's past corruption allegations.

On 8 May, Joo Ho-young was elected the UFP's Floor Leader, automatically becoming the party's interim Leader. On 22 May, the party held an election to nominate Kim Chong-in as the interim President until the next by-elections on 7 April 2021, which he accepted. The same day, the FKP announced its merger by 29 May. On 28 May, both the UFP and FKP officially declared their merger as the unified UFP.

On 13 August, Realmeter had revealed an opinion poll showing that the party has gained more supporters than the ruling Democratic Party (UFP: 36.5%–DP: 33.4%). This was the first time that a conservative party gained more support than a liberal party since the political scandal of former President Park Geun-hye in October 2016.

On 31 August, the party decided to change its name to the People Power (Korean: 국민의힘; the "Party" was added later). The party requested that the name be changed to the National Election Commission. It has been argued that the new proposed name was similar to the minor centrist People Party of Ahn Cheol-soo. There are speculations that the party is willing to form an electoral alliance with the minor opposition party in the 2021 by-elections. Jung Chung-rae, an MP of the Democratic Party, criticised the name for being too similar to a civic organisation established in 2003, where he used to serve as its first co-president.

On 2 September, the party officially changed its name to the People Power Party, its current name. The PPP declared that it would be a centrist and pragmatic party. On 14 September, the party revealed its logo and its 3 colours—red, yellow, and blue, based on its temporary decisions. These colours were officially confirmed on 23 September, although yellow was replaced with white.

On 17 September, Kwon Sung-dong, the MP for Gangneung, officially returned to the PPP, leading the party to have 104 seats. He left the party before the 2020 elections, where he ran as an independent candidate. The PPP's total seats were reverted to 103 after Park Duk-hyum, the MP for Boeun- Okcheon- Yeongdong-Goesan, quit the party on 23 September following corruption allegations. He denied all allegations related to him and his family.

On 22 December, Jeon Bong-min, the MP for Suyeong, quit the party following corruption allegations against himself and his father.

On 7 January 2021, Kim Byong-wook, the MP for Pohang South- Ulleung, withdrew from the PPP due to a controversy related to sexual harassment. The same day, Kim Tae-ho, the former Governor of South Gyeongsang and the incumbent MP for Sancheong- Hamyang- Geochang- Hapcheon, officially rejoined the party.

2021 by-elections

Before the 2021 by-elections, the party elected the former Mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon as its Seoul mayoral candidate, as well as the former MP for Suyeong, Park Hyung-joon as its Busan mayoral candidate on 4 March 2021.

In the by-elections on 7 April, the party achieved an outright victory despite the government's low popularity, where both Oh and Park were elected by a large margin. Oh Se-hoon, who formerly stepped down as the Mayor of Seoul in 2011, defeated the Democratic candidate Park Young-sun and successfully came back to the position. Park Hyung-joon also defeated the Democratic candidate Kim Young-choon and was elected the Mayor of Busan, despite his several controversies, such as Haeundae LCT The Sharp. The same day, the MP for Gimcheon Song Eon-seog, faced public backlashes after it was reported that he was swearing and assaulting office workers. He quit the party on 14 April.

In opposition (2021–2022)

On 8 April 2021, Joo Ho-young returned as the interim President of the party. He announced his intention to resign as the parliamentary leader on 16 April, adding that he would not serve until his term finishes on 29 May, but instead, until a new person is elected. The same day, the party declared that they will continue the processes to merge the minor People Party.

On 30 April, the former Mayor of Ulsan Kim Gi-hyeon was elected the new parliamentary leader of the party, defeating Kim Tae-heum, Kweon Seong-dong, and Yu Eui-dong. He served as the acting party President until the leadership election that was held on 11 June.

On 21 May, Kim Byong-wook, who quit the party in January following a sexual harassment controversy, officially returned to the PPP.

On 11 June, Lee Jun-seok was elected the new President of the party, defeating Na Kyung-won and others.

On 24 June, the party approved an independent MP Hong Jun-pyo's bid to rejoin.

On 15 July, Choi Jae-hyung, one of the potential candidate for the 2022 presidential election, officially joined the party.

On 30 July, the former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol, who was also the most favourable candidate for the 2020 presidential election, officially joined the party.

On 5 August, Yoon Sang-hyun, the MP for Incheon East- Michuhol 2nd, rejoined the party, and therefore all 4 PPP-friendly independent MPs successfully returned.

2022 presidential election and by-elections

On 5 November 2021, Yoon Suk-yeol won PPP presidential primary, defeating Hong Jun-pyo.

In the presidential election on 9 March, Yoon was elected President of South Korea, defeating Lee Jae-myung by a margin of 0.73%. The party also won at the March 2022 by-elections that was held along with the presidential election, where the party regain 4 out of 5 constituencies. Although the party did not contest for Daegu Central- South, Lim Byung-hun, a pro-PPP independent candidate, was elected. This increased the total number of the PPP MPs, from 106 to 110.

On 8 April, Kweon Seong-dong was elected parliamentary leader of the People Power Party, defeating Cho Hae-jin.

On 18 April 2022, the minor People Party merged into the PPP.

Return to the government (since 2022)

Following Yoon's inauguration as the President on 9 May, the PPP faced the local elections in 1 June, which they achieved an outright victory.

Later, the new party leader Lee Jun-seok, who took a critical stance toward the president, was expelled from the party.Through the text leak incident that occurred later, it was possible to understand the president's uncomfortable intentions toward the former party leader.

Ideology

The People Power Party can be seen as a big tent political party, There are politicians with various ideologies in the PPP, but they are usually referred to as figures rather than ideologies. The party is considered a right-wing
conservative political party in South Korea, but inside, it is widely distributed from moderate Republicanism to extremists who support Neo- McCarthyism.
Currently, the party is dominated by the faction friendly to the president (pro-yun), and there are neutral to the president (Byun) and critical to the president (non-yoon).

PPP defines its main conservative values as "''jayu-minjujuui''" (), and its supporters also tend to define PPP as "''jayujuui'' political party". Foreign media tend to paraphrase the "''jayujuui''" () claimed by South Korean conservatives as "libertarian", as the PPP-backed "Jayujuui" has little to do with "liberal" in the United States political context. However, PPP's libertarianism is mainly confined to the economic sphere. In 2022, the Ministry of Education under the PPP's ruling Yoon Suk Yeoln government changed the term "democracy" to "liberal democracy" in the new textbook to be revised in 2025, but at the same time removed all the terms "LGBT". PPP is classified as a '' bosujuui'' party, and DPK is classified as a '' jayujuui'' or '' sahoe-jayujuui'' party.

Main factions

* Chin-yun () is right-wing to far-right. It is evaluated that the current PPP is leading the hard-line conservatism and right-wing movement. Chin Yun is social conservatism and national conservatism, and is sometimes referred to as right-wing populist and anti-communist. Chin-yun is influenced by Milton Friedman and supports libertarian economic policies.
* Bi-yun () is referred to as a moderate group. People from the New Conservative Party are leading the way. They are ideologically inconsistent except against Yoon Suk-yeol, and there are economic liberals and paternalistic conservatives.

Political positions

The People's Power Party was mainly referred to as a right-wing party, but was also referred to as the far-right party at the beginning of its establishment.

After the election of a new party leader, the people power party try to moved to a more moderate direction, but due to opposition from conservatives within the party, proper reform could not be carried out. The president's bad intentions toward the party leader After being overthrown by a pro-presidential(called 친윤 or 윤핵관) faction within the party The party leader was evictioned from the party and The People's Power Party was evaluated to be moving in the far-right direction of the former Liberty Korea Party again. After Lee Jun-seok was ousted In a text message with the floor leader, the president said “Our party is doing well. We have to keep doing this,” and “It has changed since the party leader, who internal gunpowder, changed,” he said, expressing his uncomfortable feelings toward the party leader in the past.

Economic policies

In the past, conservative political parties in South Korea also showed economic interventionism due to Park Chung-hee's influence. However, the current PPP has become more economically liberal, and the British journal ''The Economist'' described PPP as "fiscal conservative" in 'The World Head 2022'.

Social policies

The PPP has a socially conservative tendency and advocates sound budgeting, public safety, a focus on providing jobs, traditional family values, and national patriotism. Most PPP politicians oppose LGBT rights.

Some media outlets criticized a part of the PPP's young politicians' negative attitude toward feminism.

PPP opposes DPK's policy of officially attempting to regulate dog meat consumption. Yang Joon-woo, a spokesman for PPP, criticized, "The state does not have the right to regulate individual tastes or eating habits".

As South Korea's low birthrate intensifies, key politicians in the PPP have moved away from the conservative immigration policies of the past and began to support a more liberal approaches. The conservative-libertarian Yoon Suk-yeol government supports the creation of an "immigration office" (이민청) that has been discussed and failed since the past liberal Kim Dae-jung government.

The PPP is advocating for the abolishment of the "Korean age" and the standardization of age counting in South Korea. Lee Yong-ho, the chief of Yoon Suk-yeol 's transition committee, said the different age counting methods in the country creates "persistent confusion" and "unnecessary social and economic costs".

Diplomatic politics

South Korea is the most pro-American country among Northeast Asian countries, especially the conservative PPP's pro-American tendency is stronger, but differences in diplomatic views may occur depending on individual party members.

Diplomatic positions on China are not clearly defined, but are usually critical. However, 'conservatives' in South Korea place more importance on economic pragmatism than anti-imperialist ' liberals', so they try to avoid excessive conflicts with China in Cross-Strait relations, Korean culture and Korean history.

In diplomatic relations with Japan, the PPP is not unconditionally conciliatory to Japan, but it shows a relatively conciliatory dovish view compared to the hawkish views of DPK politicians.

North Korea

The PPP actively supports anti-communism (especially anti-North Korea) and advocates the relevant campaign.

Criticism

Some right-wing young politicians of the PPP, South Korea's largest conservative party, are based on the support of the '' Idaenam''. They have also been criticized by major South Korean media and some foreign media because they are showing strong anti-feminist tendencies. The left-of-center/liberal newspaper ''Hankyoreh'' compared Lee Joon-seok, a former PPP leader, with far-right populism in Europe. The ''JoongAng'' ''Ilbo'', a moderate conservative journalist, also described Lee negatively. Because of these intraparty hawks, the PPP has been referred to as " far-right" by ''The Nation'', an American progressive magazine.

However, in the South Korean political position, Lee Joon-seok was known as a politician who distanced himself from the Liberty Korea Party-style authoritarian far-right politics. After the new party leader was ousted, hard-line conservatives who were unconditionally loyal to the president took over the party and were criticized for moving in the far-right direction of the former Liberty Korea Party.

Controversy

The conservative PPP and liberal DPK tend to use hostile rhetoric against China and Japan to win political debates, which has been criticized among left-wing progressive and anti-racist activists for fueling nationalist hatred by the South Korean public, resulting in discrimination and violence against Chinese people and Japanese people in South Korean society. PPP mainly encouraged anti-China sentiment, and DPK mainly encouraged anti-Japan sentiment. The progressive Sim Sang-jung saying, "I will not use anti-American, anti-Chinese and anti-Japanese sentiment in politics" in the  2022 South Korean presidential election.

Leadership

Leaders

*Note: – as head of Emergency Response Committee

Floor Leaders

Secretary-General

Election results

President

Legislature

Local

By-elections

See also

* Angry young man (South Korea)
* Fiscal conservatism
* Democratic Republican Party
* Independent Democratic Union (Chile)
* Liberal Party (Brazil, 2006)
* Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)

Notes

References

External links

Official website

{{South Korean political parties

2020 establishments in South Korea
Anti-Chinese sentiment in Korea
Anti-communism in South Korea
Anti-communist parties
Conservative parties in South Korea
Libertarian conservative parties
National conservative parties
Political parties established in 2020
Political parties in South Korea
Social conservative parties
Right-libertarianism
Right-wing parties in Asia
Right-wing politics in South Korea
Right-wing populist parties