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People Power Party Opens Convention to Choose New Leader

Delegates face a choice shaped by fallout from Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.

Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo (L) and Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, candidates for the main opposition People Power Party's leadership race, pose for a photo as they advanced to a runoff at the party's national convention in the city of Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Aug. 22, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
The four candidates for the main opposition People Power Party's leadership race -- (from L to R) Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae, former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo -- salute the national flag at the party's national convention in the city of Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Aug. 22, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
The four candidates for the main opposition People Power Party's leadership race -- (from L to R) former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and lawmakers Cho Kyoung-tae, Jang Dong-hyeok and Ahn Cheol-soo -- pose for a photo as they take part in their third TV debate in Seoul on Aug. 19, 2025, ahead of the leadership election on Aug. 22. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
The four candidates for the main opposition People Power Party's leadership race -- (from L to R) Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae and Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok -- pose for a photo at the party's national convention in the city of Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Aug. 22, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Overview

  • The four-way race features Kim Moon-soo, Jang Dong-hyeok, Cho Kyoung-tae and Ahn Cheol-soo.
  • Recent polling of party supporters shows Jang at 33 percent and Kim at 30 percent, with Ahn at 8 percent and Cho at 7 percent.
  • Candidates’ positions on Yoon’s impeachment are viewed as pivotal, with Kim and Jang opposing impeachment and regarded as the frontrunners.
  • If no candidate wins a majority, the top two advance to a runoff with a final TV debate Saturday, voting on Aug. 24–25, and confirmation Tuesday.
  • The convention also elects four Supreme Council members and a youth leader as the party seeks renewal after seven weeks under a 20 percent approval rating.