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Hwang Woo-yea (center), chair of the People Power Party’s election management committee, speaks during an appointment ceremony at the National Assembly on July 14. / Courtesy of People Power Party

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) announced on July 14 that it plans to hold a national convention to elect a new party leader no later than late August.

Jung Jeom-sik, the party’s secretary-general and deputy chair of the election management committee, told reporters after the committee's first meeting at the National Assembly, “We’ve set a principle to hold the convention by mid-to-late August at the latest. The exact date will be finalized in the second meeting.”

He added, “At the very least, we will finalize the timeline in the next session, which we aim to hold as soon as possible. However, the Innovation Committee is still deliberating on party rule amendments and related reform proposals tied to the convention, so we need more time to coordinate.”

Hwang Woo-yea, the chair of the election committee, emphasized the importance of the convention in preparing for the 2026 local elections, stating, “This must be a convention that prioritizes national interest and people’s livelihoods. I hope the next leadership, chosen through this process, will stabilize the party and regain public trust.”

He also noted, “The local elections will serve as a midterm judgment of the current administration, and the party must be thoroughly prepared to ensure it doesn’t disappoint the public.”

The committee also announced its subcommittee lineup. Rep. Seo Ji-young will lead the Speech and Debate Planning Subcommittee, Rep. Lee Sang-hwi will head the Convention Preparatory Subcommittee, and Choi Ki-sik, PPP chairman for Uiwang-Gwacheon, will lead the Clean Primary Subcommittee. Party spokesperson Ham In-kyung was appointed as spokesperson for the election committee.