The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war

  • 3

    Korean culture as the solution

  • 5

    Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics

  • 7

    ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?

  • 9

    China, Korea agree to strengthen talks on chip industry: Chinese commerce ministry

  • 11

    Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight

  • 13

    Synth pop regains popularity with K-stars, riding retro boom

  • 15

    Biden says debt default deal 'very close' while deadline now set at June 5

  • 17

    1 in 6 N. Korean children under 5 suffer from stunted growth: report

  • 19

    Russia's Lavrov tells China envoy 'serious obstacles' to Ukraine peace

  • 2

    Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases

  • 4

    Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets

  • 6

    Temples celebrate Buddha's birthday

  • 8

    Korea walks fine line between US, China in chip war

  • 10

    Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows

  • 12

    CJ, Shinsegae study temple food to expand vegan lineup

  • 14

    Mexico president eyes deals with China, Korea to combat fentanyl

  • 16

    Africa Day celebrated in Korea with book talk

  • 18

    Arrest warrant issued for man who opened plane door mid-air

  • 20

    Tech leads more gains on Wall Street

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Mon, May 29, 2023 | 21:26
Politics
Ruling party elects Yoon's ally Kim Gi-hyeon as new leader
Posted : 2023-03-08 20:50
Updated : 2023-03-09 12:07
Nam Hyun-woo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
New People Power Party Chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon clinches his fist during his acceptance speech after being elected as the new leader of the ruling party during its national convention at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
New People Power Party Chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon clinches his fist during his acceptance speech after being elected as the new leader of the ruling party during its national convention at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

Kim's win to help strengthen president's grip on PPP

By Nam Hyun-woo

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) elected Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon as its new chairman, Wednesday, as the four-term lawmaker won more than 50 percent of the total votes during the party's national convention.

Kim, who has been described as the most favored candidate by President Yoon Suk Yeol, won 52.93 percent of the votes to cruise past his rival, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, who secured 23.37 percent of the ballots, making a runoff between the top candidates unnecessary.

Ahn has been facing doubts about his support for the president's political views. And the outcome of the vote allowed Yoon to strengthen his grip over the party ahead of next year's general election, because Kim will yield his right to nominate the party's candidates.

Chun Ha-ram, who became popular for his comments critical of the president and his close confidants, received 14.98 percent of the votes, while former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn secured 8.72 percent of the ballots.

The PPP held a four-day vote from Saturday to Tuesday, with 461,313 out of 837,236 paying party members casting their ballots by either mobile or voice-based voting. Voter turnout hit an all-time high of 55.1 percent.

"The party chairman is obliged to devote himself to the success of the PPP and the Yoon administration and lead the party to an overwhelming victory in the general election next year," Kim said in his acceptance speech. "We shall unite and achieve an overwhelming victory next year."

Kim added that he will serve great leaders such as Ahn, Chun and Hwang to make an inclusive party. But Ahn left the convention center when Kim began his acceptance speech.

New People Power Party Chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon clinches his fist during his acceptance speech after being elected as the new leader of the ruling party during its national convention at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
New People Power Party Chairman Kim Gi-hyeon, fourth from left, raises his arms after being confirmed as the ruling party's new leader during its national convention at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. The three other candidates were Hwang Kyo-ahn, left, Ahn Cheol-soo, third from right and Chun Ha-ram, second from right. Yonhap

Ahn has been crying foul about the election process, claiming that the presidential office and lawmakers close to Yoon unfairly supported Kim. Ahn sought to reverse Kim's lead in a runoff. But party members rallied behind Kim, who is anticipated to focus on supporting Yoon on the legislative side.

The president attended the national convention at KINTEX convention hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province and delivered a speech before the party to announce the result.

"We should all be one team under the new party leadership," Yoon said. "There is no winner or loser in elections within our PPP."

New People Power Party Chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon clinches his fist during his acceptance speech after being elected as the new leader of the ruling party during its national convention at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
President Yoon Suk Yeol gestures before delivering a speech at the ruling People Power Party's national convention at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Yonhap

During the election, not only Chun but three anti-Yoon candidates who also ran to become members of the party's Supreme Council failed to win, signaling a stronger grip over the party by the president, who took office last May.

Although Kim called for unity within the party, pundits say the new chairman will not be able to ignore being influenced by the presidential office in nominating figures outside of the pro-Yoon faction for next year's general election. In this case, the party may suffer from factional feuding, weakening its momentum to become a majority party.

Another task for Kim is resolving the party's standoff with the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and gaining political leverage in the National Assembly dominated by the main opposition party. The DPK holds 169 out of 299 seats.

"Including DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung, I will meet leaders of opposition parties as soon as possible and seek their opinions for bipartisan cooperation to take care of the public livelihood," Kim said during a press conference.



Emailnamhw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry? ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?
2Korea walks fine line between US, China in chip war Korea walks fine line between US, China in chip war
3Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows
4Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight
5Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards
6Half of medical tourists visiting Korea inspired by K-culture Half of medical tourists visiting Korea inspired by K-culture
7Hyundai Steel receives EPD certification for low-carbon H-beam products Hyundai Steel receives EPD certification for low-carbon H-beam products
8[RAS KOREA] Preserving memories at Cheongju City Archives RAS KOREAPreserving memories at Cheongju City Archives
9Mirae Asset holds ETF Rally 2023 for global expansion Mirae Asset holds ETF Rally 2023 for global expansion
10Gov't moves to assist 3,400 Koreans stranded in typhoon-hit Guam Gov't moves to assist 3,400 Koreans stranded in typhoon-hit Guam
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful' Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful'
2SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal' SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal'
3[INTERVIEW] Long-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward INTERVIEWLong-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward
4ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood' ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood'
5'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group