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| Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, center, new leader of the ruling People Power Party, walks with members of its Supreme Council toward a meeting room at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Newsis |
Biggest culprit of president's popularity problem removed: analysts
By Jung Min-ho
With his close aide taking control of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), President Yoon Suk Yeol has secured ― for the first time ― a party leadership that shares much of his political vision, according to analysts, Thursday.
Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, a four-term lawmaker, was elected as the PPP's new chairman the previous day. This means a united and supportive leadership for the president, who has been less popular than most of his predecessors, in part because of a lack of support from his own party.
"The most damaging factor in terms of a president's approval rating is criticism from their own party," Bae Jong-chan, a political analyst who runs Insight K, a consultancy, told The Korea Times. "With the problem now removed, Yoon's popularity is expected to grow."
It may not be accurate to say that the outcome of the PPP leadership race will allow Yoon to strengthen his grip on the party because Yoon, who only joined it a few months before the presidential election, never had what can be called a grip, experts say. Attacked constantly by previous party leaders including former PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok, as well as the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) since his inauguration, his approval ratings plummeted to below 30 percent in less than 80 days in office.
Unnerved by the falling numbers, the conservatives, especially hardline members, appeared to coalesce behind the candidate apparently backed by Yoon, according to Bae.
"In the early stage of the race, Kim's approval rating was at about 3 percent. His 53 percent of the vote, in the end, should be interpreted as a vote for the president," he said.
The party also elected five Supreme Council members, including North Korean defector-turned-lawmaker Tae Yong-ho and Rep. Cho Su-jin. All of them are vocal supporters of the president.
Beginning his two-year term, Kim vowed to unite his party to take back control of the National Assembly with an "overwhelming victory" in the general elections next year.
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| President Yoon Suk Yeol raises his fist during the ruling People Power Party's convention held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Newsis |
Bae believes a united party voice will be helpful for its election chances. But some experts disagree.
Korea used to have a political system in which a president served also as the chief of the ruling party. "Yoon should think about why we reformed the system to take that role away from a president," said Hong Hyeong-sik, a political analyst who runs Hangil Research, a pollster. "We did so because there were many problems (such as attempts to control the legislative branch). Also, if the president's influence grows too much, the party's role becomes limited. That means every responsibility falls on Yoon's shoulders."
He added, "The president may have won the party leadership's support. Ultimately, however, he and the party should win the support of the people for the general elections to get anything done at the Assembly. For now, it is difficult to predict whether the new leadership will be helpful."
Perhaps a more deciding factor for the elections could be found in the opposition. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the DPK, is facing multiple corruption allegations. In the coming weeks, he is widely expected to be indicted and stand a lengthy trial, which bodes ill for the reputation and the election prospects of the party.
"In terms of election results, how the DPK handles the case, legally and politically, will be more important than the PPP's new leadership," Hong said.
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