South Korea's ruling PPP faces internal discord as nomination chief plans to resign
Seoul — South Korea’s ruling conservative People Power Party (PPP) is grappling with internal discord after the head of its nomination-management committee said he plans to resign, saying he cannot continue pursuing the direction he had envisioned. The move comes as Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon pushes for an early launch of the party’s Innovation Frontline and as the party delays the nomination of a Seoul mayoral candidate ahead of the June 3 local elections.
Lee Jeong-hyeon, who chairs the PPP’s Nomination Management Committee, announced his intention to step down, explaining that although he sought change, he could not press forward with his planned approach amid varying views within the party. He wished the party unity and victory in the local elections. Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok stressed that fair nominations are vital to the process and the party’s credibility.
Jang spoke to reporters at the National Assembly and said he would meet Lee as soon as possible to hear his concerns. He added that his remarks about Lee postponing the nomination discussions due to calls for personnel reshuffles reflected a general emphasis on maintaining a fair nomination process, not a personal dispute.
Separately, polls published by Gallup Korea show the PPP with 20% nationwide support, compared with 47% for the Democratic Party. The PPP’s rating had stood at 25% in the first week of February, a decline of five points in roughly a month. In a separate party-affinity measure, the PPP registered 19% favorable and 70% unfavorable, while the Democratic Party stood at 50% favorable and 39% unfavorable. The poll also found disapproval higher among both conservative and centrist voters: 55% of conservative-to-hard-right and soft-conservative respondents and 74% of centrists disapproved of the PPP. The survey was conducted by telephone with 1,002 adults, at a 95% confidence level, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points and a 11.9% response rate.
The figures come as the local elections approach and illustrate how internal rifts within the PPP could affect its ability to mobilize support for candidates nationwide, including in Seoul where control of the metropolitan government is a central political prize.
Context for readers: The People Power Party is South Korea’s main conservative party and currently governs at the national level. The Democratic Party is the main liberal opposition. The June 3 local elections will determine mayors and local councils across the country, a vote that often signals public sentiment toward the administration and can influence national policy directions.
Why this matters to the United States: Seoul—not only the capital but also a major economic and technology hub—shapes South Korea’s approach to defense, trade, and regional security aligned with U.S. interests. Shifts in leadership or nomination battles within the PPP can affect policy on Korea’s alliance with the United States, North Korea diplomacy, and technology policy around semiconductors and digital infrastructure. The outcome may influence foreign investment, supply-chain resilience, and market expectations in a key U.S. ally and major player in the global tech economy.