Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol leaves the party's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corps |
By Nam Hyun-woo
 |
The election committee of PPP presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol has been almost disbanded after all of the chiefs of the committee offered to resign on Monday, in an effort to overhaul the organization amid a rapid decline in Yoon's support rate following the party's internal disputes and the candidate's continued slips of the tongue.
As Yoon's gaffes continue, along with conflicts within the party, the candidate has faced mounting criticism from within the PPP over his leadership, along with calls to replace him.
Such demands peaked when PPP election committee chief Kim Chong-in on Monday told Yoon to "act" according to the campaign team's direction.
Along with the comment, Kim announced the decision to reform the election committee without informing Yoon beforehand, indicating that many of the decisions at the committee have been made without seeking the candidate's opinion.
The moves triggered strong responses from both inside and outside the party.
Yoon's primary rival within the PPP, Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, said that the comment shows that the party looks down on the candidate, while DPK Chairman Song Young-gil said that the opposition party has admitted that Yoon is nothing more than a "figurehead."
Although the PPP is unlikely to replace the candidate when the election is about two months ahead, there is still anticipation that Yoon may have to form a coalition with the moderately-conservative People's Party and contend with its presidential candidate, Ahn Cheol-soo, for a single candidacy.
 |
| People's Party presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo speaks to Kim Ho-il, the chairman of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, at its office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps |
While Yoon's support rate falters, Ahn has seen a noticeable growth in the number of backers, dropping hints that a coalition with the former doctor and software tycoon could be a viable choice for the PPP.
According to a survey by Global Research, requested by broadcaster JTBC, Ahn's support rate stood at 9.1 percent, following behind Yoon with 28.1 percent and DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung with 37 percent. The poll questioned 1,012 adults from Jan. 1 to 2, and further details are available at the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.
In response to a question about who should be the single candidate in case Yoon and Ahn form a coalition, 41.1 percent of respondents said they prefer Ahn, while 30.6 percent said they prefer Yoon. Among the respondents who said they support a Yoon-Ahn coalition, however, Yoon outpaced Ahn by 55.9 percent to 35.9 percent.
So far, Ahn has been ruling out any possibility of a coalition with Yoon and the PPP.
"There will be no coalition and I am the only person who can beat DPK's Lee," Ahn said during an interview with Sisa Journal. However, pundits say chances are high that the PPP will seek a coalition with Ahn, although either Yoon or Ahn will not be able to fully absorb each other's support rate.
Against this backdrop, there are multiple scenarios for such a coalition, such as a primary between Ahn and Yoon after Ahn joins the PPP, or a merger of the People's Party with the PPP. Also, there is a chance that the two will hold a primary regardless of their party.
 |
| Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, second from right, listens to an official at Kia's plant in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps |
Meanwhile, DPK presidential candidate Lee is also suffering from lingering doubts about his candidacy.
The DPK reopened an online forum for party members on Monday and more than 1,300 posts about replacing the presidential candidate were posted that day.
Most of the posts demanded that the party replace its candidate, Lee, suggesting his primary rival, former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, as an alternative.
"Apart from personal favors of Lee, the candidate, whose ethical flaw is at a critical level, is unqualified to criticize the PPP candidate and justify his presidency," a post read.
Lee has been grappling with suspicions that he was involved in a massive land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Also, the police are investigating allegations that Lee's son dabbled in illegal gambling.
