The ruling front needs a more drastic change

Rep. Chang Je-won, a third-term lawmaker of the governing People Power Party (PPP), declared he will not run in the next parliamentary election in April. Earlier, the innovation committee of the PPP demanded that party heavyweights like Chang and other senior lawmakers close to President Yoon Suk Yeol run in constituencies other than their home turf to help reform the conservative party. But no one has complied so far, except for Chang. After his bold decision, other bigwigs, including PPP leader Kim Gi-hyeon, are expected to announce their position soon. However, given the uphill battle the PPP faces with less than four months left until the election, it is not clear if such a move will be enough to re-energize the lethargic party.

A recent Gallup Korea poll shows it all. Only 35 percent of the respondents said that they will vote for the PPP to support the struggling Yoon administration, while 51 percent would vote for the majority Democratic Party (DP) to help it check the government. Such results dominated the entire country, except for Daegu and North Gyeongsang, the home ground for conservatism in Korea. And only the voters in their 60s or older supported the PPP and the government. In contrast, in a survey conducted before the 2022 presidential election held during the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, 55 percent wanted to change the government whereas 36 percent did not.

Even if more PPP lawmakers decide not to run in the upcoming election to help revitalize the party, they will likely come from constituencies in the Yeongnam region, otherwise known as South and North Gyeongsang. In the preliminary registration of candidates for the election, which started Tuesday, it was packed with PPP candidates wishing to run in conservative bases like the Yeongnam region and three districts in southern Seoul, for a sure win if they are nominated. But candidates who want to run in tough battlefields such as northern Seoul and Gyeonggi were nearly invisible. That will hardly impress the voters who want to see the party change itself.

The dark prospect of the PPP originates with President Yoon’s low approval rating. In the Gallup Korea poll, 32 percent endorsed his performance as president while 59 percent didn’t. His approval rating outweighed his disapproval rating only in Daegu and North Gyeongsang. Even in Busan and South Gyeongsang, 55 percent disapproved of his job as president. Without a drastic change in his governing style, the PPP — and the government— cannot turn the tide.

Despite its crushing defeat in a Seoul by-election in October, the government did not change. The president prompted criticism after nominating his former senior prosecutor as head of the mighty Korea Communications Commission, another revolving-door appointment based on his personal connections. The misleading report to the president about the progress in Busan’s bid for the 2030 World Expo fueled the public’s negative view on the government. The president’s order to corporate leaders to accompany him on his trip to Busan to help relieve Busan citizens of their sorrow also backfired.

The president must revamp his aides and change the way he governs the country. He must not repeat appointment fiascoes any more. The government also needs to keep watch on the first lady since the DP is pushing for the appointment of a special prosecutor to look into possible corruption by the first lady and her family. The clock is ticking.