Kim Do-eup, Sung Il-jong, and Jeong Jeom-sik Announce Candidacy for People Power Party Floor Leader

On June 5, Song Eon-seok resigned as floor leader of the People Power Party, prompting the party to prepare for a new election on June 9. Candidates for the position include four-term lawmaker Kim Do-eup from Busan, three-term lawmakers Sung Il-jong from South Chungcheong, and Jeong Jeom-sik from South Gyeongsang.

Kim Do-eup emphasized his commitment to party unity and neutrality. At a press conference, he stated, "I will do my utmost to restore harmony within the divided party and rebuild conservatism, which has been weakened." He added, "The People Power Party must be reborn. We can no longer cause conflict and concern among the public. We need to regain the trust of the people through change and renewal, and unify the party to rebuild a crisis-stricken conservatism."

He also called for a fight against the ruling party's dominance, stating, "We must defend liberal democracy and the rule of law. We need to normalize the dysfunctional National Assembly and restore politics through dialogue and compromise, while also achieving results in the economy through negotiation and persuasion."

Kim expressed his belief that he is the right person to unify and revitalize the party, saying, "I have dedicated myself to the Republic of Korea and its people from a neutral standpoint, regardless of factions."

Sung Il-jong highlighted his independent political stance, stating, "In my ten years in the National Assembly, I have never relied on any specific faction or group." He asserted, "I am confident that I can be the right person to create a platform for unity solely for the people and the party, based on the beliefs I have upheld until now. I will boldly drive the party's renewal efforts on the foundation of unity."

He further emphasized the need for transformation within the People Power Party, stating, "It is essential for the party to change for the sake of unification and renewal. However, having leaders from the legal profession monopolize these roles is not what the public desires. We need a floor leader who can resonate with the people's experiences and speak their language."

Jeong Jeom-sik spoke about his dedication to the party, saying, "I have always stood by the party during difficult times and have fought with action, not just words."

He stressed the need for leadership that can unite all 110 members to ensure victory in the upcoming 23rd general election, stating, "I will be the floor leader who brings that strength together." He pledged to focus on restoring trust and unity within the party during his one-year term as floor leader, laying the groundwork for success in the next general election.

All three lawmakers acknowledged the issue of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's potential return to the party, describing him as an asset to the broader conservative movement, but emphasized the need to consider the opinions of party members and approach the matter with care.