Ruling party elects Yoon's ally Kim Gi-hyeon as new leader

• Published date: 08 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

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.

Ahn has been crying foul about the election process, claiming that the presidential office and lawmakers close...