An alarming clash ahead of the election

The presidential office’s recent intervention in the affairs of the governing People Power Party (PPP) certainly went overboard. After President Yoon Suk Yeol’s chief of staff, Lee Kwan-sup, on Sunday demanded that PPP emergency committee chair Han Dong-hoon step down for dubious reasons, it has had big repercussions on the PPP and beyond.

The presidential chief of staff allegedly called for Han’s resignation citing his violation of the principle of fair nomination for the April 10 parliamentary election after the interim leader of the party made sensitive remarks suggesting a de facto confirmation of his nomination of Kim Kyung-ryul, an emergency committee member, for a legislative seat. But the presidential office likely urged Han to resign because the president was enraged after Han asked the first lady to apologize for her suspicious reception of a luxury handbag from a pastor four months after her husband became president.

But clearly, the relationship between the interim leader and the president is not vertical. Different from government ministers, Han is assured of a high level of autonomy just like the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the National Assembly speaker. Even if Han irked the president for whatever reason, the presidential chief of staff cannot immediately call for Han’s resignation. Admittedly, Han just delivered growing public sentiments against the first lady over the gift she had accepted even though she was framed by a liberal media outlet.

President Yoon has had discords with PPP leaders repeatedly since taking office in May 2022. He forced out former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok after local elections because he did not like him. Similar fracas also occurred before former PPP leader Kim Gi-hyeon stepped down last year. Han could replace Kim thanks to the push by PPP lawmakers loyal to the president. It doesn’t make sense if the president wants to drive Han out less than a month after he took office citing his volatile remarks about his wife.

Yoon can focus on completing his presidential tasks during the remainder of his term without worrying about re-election. But the interim leader must deal with public opinion ahead of the legislative elections. That calls for close communication between the presidential office and the governing party.

The unexpected clash between the president and the interim leader sounds alarms to the conservative camp. Polls show the PPP already faces an uphill battle with the Democratic Party in the election. If such an internal division prevails, the PPP can hardly win the election. We hope the presidential office and the governing party resolve the alarming friction as soon as possible if the PPP really wants to be a majority in three months.