People Power Party
Overview
The People Power Party (국민의힘) is a conservative political party in South Korea. It was founded on February 17, 2020, as the United Future Party (미래통합당) and changed to its current name on September 2, 2020. As of 2024, it serves as the main opposition party in the 22nd National Assembly. Traditionally, its core ideologies are conservatism, free-market economy, and anti-communism. The party color is red, and its logo symbolizes the Taegeukgi (national flag) and the mugunghwa (national flower).
Main Content
Founding Background and History
The People Power Party traces its lineage through several predecessor parties: the Democratic Republican Party (founded 1963), the Democratic Justice Party (1981), the Democratic Liberal Party (1990), the New Korea Party (1995), the Grand National Party (1997), the Saenuri Party (2012), the Liberty Korea Party (2017), and the United Future Party (2020). On February 17, 2020, conservative parties including the Liberty Korea Party, the New Conservative Party, and the Forward for Future 4.0 merged to form the United Future Party. On September 2 of the same year, a party convention changed the name to 'People Power Party.' This decision followed a crushing defeat in the April 2020 general election, aimed at party renewal and image improvement.
Major Policies and Ideology
The People Power Party upholds liberal democracy, a market economy, and the rule of law as its fundamental values. Key policies include: ▲ Promoting economic growth through deregulation, ▲ Denuclearization of North Korea and a strong security posture, ▲ Expanding educational autonomy, ▲ Population policies to address low birth rates and aging, and ▲ Stabilizing the real estate market. Particularly after the launch of the Yoon Suk Yeol government in 2022, it has emphasized 'small government' and 'fairness and common sense,' shifting the direction of state affairs to a conservative right-wing stance.
Key Figures
- Yoon Suk Yeol: 20th President of South Korea (2022–2027), party member. Former Prosecutor General, elected in the 2022 presidential election.
- Han Dong-hoon: Elected party leader in July 2024. Former Minister of Justice.
- Kim Gi-hyeon: Served as party leader from 2023 to 2024.
- Lee Jun-seok: First party leader (2021–2022), led party innovation and generational change.
- Yoo Seong-min: Former lawmaker, representing the non-mainstream reformist conservative faction within the party.
Electoral Performance
- 2020 General Election: As the United Future Party, won 103 seats (including proportional representation), a crushing defeat amid the overwhelming victory of the Moon Jae-in government.
- 2022 Presidential Election: Candidate Yoon Suk Yeol won with 48.56% of the vote, a razor-thin victory by a margin of 0.73 percentage points.
- 2022 Local Elections: Won 12 out of 17 metropolitan mayoral and gubernatorial positions, an overwhelming advantage.
- 2024 General Election: Won 108 seats (including proportional representation), losing to the Democratic Party of Korea and falling to the main opposition party.
Internal Factions and Conflicts
The People Power Party traditionally has several factions, including pro-Park (pro-Park Geun-hye), pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk Yeol), and non-mainstream reformist groups. Under leader Lee Jun-seok in 2021, party innovation was pursued, but after the 2022 presidential election, internal strife erupted, leading to Lee's expulsion due to conflicts with President Yoon. Under leader Han Dong-hoon in 2024, the 'pro-Han' faction rose to dominate the party. These factional conflicts hinder party unity and policy consistency.
Latest Trends
In July 2024, former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon was elected party leader, launching a new leadership system for the People Power Party. Leader Han is promoting party renewal, emphasizing 'people's livelihoods first,' 'strengthening party-government cooperation,' and 'targeting the 2030 generation.' After the defeat in the April 2024 general election, the party faces the challenge of overcoming the public's desire to punish the incumbent government and preparing for the 2027 presidential election. Recent opinion polls show the People Power Party's approval rating hovering in the early 30% range, trading places with the Democratic Party of Korea. Additionally, evaluations of the Yoon Suk Yeol government's performance directly impact the party's approval rating, making party-government cooperation and communication a key task. In 2025, the party is expected to seek expansion into the centrist camp through party constitution amendments and strengthening its policy brand.
Related Topics
- [[Democratic Party of Korea]]
- [[Yoon Suk Yeol]]
- [[Han Dong-hoon]]
- [[Politics of South Korea]]
- [[Conservatism]]
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