PPP infighting deepens as ruling party pushes into conservative strongholds

Seomun Market in Jung District, Daegu, is crowded with shoppers, Friday, as the June 3 local elections draw closer. Yonhap

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is entering the June 3 local elections with its nomination process still unsettled, as internal disputes continue to spill into the open.

At the same time, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is widening its focus to conservative regions, sensing an opportunity.

The sharpest turbulence inside the PPP is centered on the Daegu mayoral race. Rep. Joo Ho-young, who was cut from the primary, has taken the matter to court. Others have staged hunger strikes or are shaving their heads in protest against the nomination committee's decisions.

The dispute has not remained confined to the race itself. Instead, it has spread across the party, raising questions about how the nominations were handled and who is really in control.

The polling numbers are also dropping.

A Gallup Korea survey released this week showed the PPP’s approval rating at 19 percent. This marks the first time under the current leadership that the party has fallen below 20 percent.

The same survey also showed that in the Daegu and North Gyeongsang region, long considered the party’s core stronghold, support for the PPP was level with the DPK.

The reaction inside the PPP has been mixed. Some lawmakers have begun to push for a change of direction, forming small reform groups and calling for a fresh start. Others have criticized the lack of senior figures stepping in to contain the situation, saying the party appears to be drifting without a clear center.

Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae, left, and former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum leave a meeting in Jung District, Seoul, Thursday, ahead of the June 3 local elections. Yonhap

The nomination process itself has also left its mark. There have been growing complaints that veteran politicians were pushed aside without sufficient explanation, adding to the sense of unease.

For voters in Daegu, this confusion is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. With court cases still pending and the primary schedule uncertain, some say they do not know who will end up on the ballot.

That uncertainty has opened the door for the DPK, a party that has long struggled to gain a foothold in the conservative region.

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is set to formally enter the Daegu mayoral race Monday, in what could become one of the defining contests of the election. He will declare his candidacy at the National Assembly in Seoul in the morning, before traveling to Daegu, where he plans to hold an afternoon event at the 2.28 Central Memorial Park — a venue his team described as embodying "the pride of Daegu citizens and the spirit of change, with a message of moving forward together."

Kim himself made clear that his decision was not unconditional. “The party must first present a vision and commitment for the development of Daegu. Only then will it be persuasive,” he said.

DPK leader Jung Chung-rae has openly backed the move. “I want to do whatever is necessary for Daegu,” he said, signaling that the party will support the campaign.

He also described Kim as the party’s strongest asset in the region and urged him to take on a challenging contest once again.

The DPK is watching for signs that divisions within the PPP could split conservative votes.

Some PPP figures have hinted at running as independents, raising the possibility of a three-way contest between the DPK, PPP and an independent candidate.

There are also expectations that a strong showing in Daegu could carry over into nearby regions, such as Busan and South Gyeongsang Province.

Nevertheless, Jung has been careful not to overstate the situation.

“There is no such thing as an easy election,” he said, warning against complacency.

The survey was conducted on 1,000 adults nationwide from Tuesday to Thursday, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.