PPP Approval Rating at 18%, Facing Difficulty Recruiting Candidates for Local Elections

With the June 3 local elections less than 60 days away, the People Power Party (PPP) is struggling to recruit candidates amid a low approval rating of 18%.

Ha Heon-ki, former standing deputy spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, described the PPP's current situation as 'disjointed,' pointing out that instead of messages of hope or alternative proposals, the party appears to be engaged in 'internal squabbles.' He noted the PPP's approval rating in Seoul stands at a mere 13%, warning that if the party continues to give 'irrelevant answers' to voters' questions, it could face a 'severe reprimand' in the upcoming elections. The reluctance of local candidates to welcome visits from leader Jang Dong-hyuk is considered common sense, as Ha analyzed that Jang's image, often summarized as 'Yoon Again,' could negatively impact candidates' vote-getting ability. He identified the 'collapse' of the PPP's leadership as the root cause of this predicament, explaining that candidates are resorting to injunction requests because principles and consistency have eroded.

Following the resignation of Public Nomination Committee Chairperson Lee Jung-hyun and the subsequent appointment of lawmaker Park Deuk-heum, the committee is reportedly facing so many injunction requests against cut-off results that it should be called a 'litigation management committee' rather than a 'nomination committee,' Ha pointed out.

Regarding the mayoral race in Daegu, Ha mentioned the Democratic Party's nomination of Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum. He emphasized that Kim Boo-kyum's actions, such as meeting former President Park Geun-hye and pledging to build the Park Chung-hee Convention Center, should be viewed as a strategy to win over voters in that specific region.