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Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon / Source: Yonhap News

With former People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon officially bowing out of the party leadership race, the lineup for the August 22 convention is all but finalized. As the short-lived “Yoon Hee-sook Innovation Committee” winds down after just two weeks, the push for reform now shifts to the leadership candidates.

On July 24, Han announced on Facebook that he would not run for party leader, instead calling for a “reform alliance” to revitalize the conservative bloc. “Only when grassroots public sentiment and the party's will align can we begin to reshape the DNA of conservative politics,” he wrote. Han also took aim at the party’s far-right drift, saying, “If reactionary forces lock arms in an ultra-right scrum, we must build a reform alliance of hope and move forward. I will be the one to draw the first bucket of water.”

Han’s decision carries major implications for the PPP’s internal dynamics. With strong support from the party base, his entry or absence was expected to influence the strategy of the pro-Yoon Suk-yeol faction. His decision is believed to have come after extended consultations with political figures inside the party.

The list of declared candidates now includes former presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, lawmakers Jang Dong-hyuk, Joo Jin-woo, Cho Kyung-tae, and Ahn Cheol-soo.

Reps. Ahn and Cho have positioned themselves on a reform platform, advocating for what they call “personnel renewal.” On the same day, Ahn met with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon over lunch to build consensus around party reform. Cho has publicly called for a united front with Han and Ahn, arguing the PPP “must break away from its far-right image.”

On the other side, Kim Moon-soo and Jang Dong-hyuk are focusing on rallying the traditional conservative base. Though Jang once served as a top member in Han Dong-hoon’s leadership team and was seen as pro-Han, he shifted to a “pro-impeachment” stance after the movement to impeach former President Yoon. Kim Moon-soo has been courting hardline conservatives with his recent support of right-wing activist Jeon Han-gil.

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Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party answers reporters' questions after declaring his candidacy for party leader at the National Assembly in Seoul on July 24. / Photo by Lee Byung-hwa

Rep. Joo Jin-woo, meanwhile, is highlighting his lack of factional ties. Though he was briefly seen as pro-Yoon after winning a seat in Haeundae, Busan, in last year’s general election, he later became aligned with Han’s camp, serving as the party’s legal affairs chief. After the impeachment crisis, he retained a post under the leadership of Kwon Young-se and Kwon Sung-dong, leading to a perception that his factional identity had faded.

In declaring his candidacy, Joo stated, “Ideological bias prevents effective policy. We must rise together to modernize conservatism. We need to rebuild the party into a young, capable, and strong conservative force.”