Selling Security and the Return of the Far-Rights: Ruling Party Turns Back into the Korea Party

The far-right politicians Kim Moon-soo (pictured, left), chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, and Hwang Kyo-ahn (right), former leader of the United Future Party, have returned to the People Power Party (PPP). The PPP is criticizing the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye and starting an anti-Communist debate calling for nuclear armament, using the security crisis as an excuse. The ruling PPP no longer has a force centered on former leader Lee Jun-seok to keep it in check, while President Yoon Suk-yeol’s approval ratings remain low. In this situation, the party seems to be turning back into the “Liberty Korea Party” with party leader candidates competing to show who is most conservative in color to gain the support of conservative members.

Kim Moon-soo actively took part in “Taegeukgi demonstrations” against the past impeachment of former President Park and founded the far-right political party, Liberty Unification Party, with Reverend Jun Kwang-hoon just before the parliamentary elections in 2020. He returned to the People Power Party early this year, ahead of the presidential election. On September 29, President Yoon appointed him as chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, which signaled his return to politics. Recently, he stirred controversy after saying, “Former President Moon Jae-in is a follower of Kim Il-sung’s philosophy,” in a parliamentary inspection. The parliamentary Environment and Labor Committee reported Kim to the Prosecution Service for the extreme right comment.

The PPP leadership defended Kim. In a meeting to discuss the party’s strategy in the parliamentary inspections at the National Assembly on October 18, floor leader Joo Ho-young said, “I couldn’t understand when former President Moon said he respected Shin Young-bok the most in front of Kim Yo-jong,” and defended Kim. Chung Jin-suk, chairman of the party’s emergency steering committee also said on October 16, “Kim Moon-soo is not the only person who suspects former President Moon to be a follower of Kim Il-sung’s philosophy.”

Hwang Kyo-ahn stepped down as party leader after the party’s defeat in the 2020 parliamentary elections. He argued that the elections were rigged, but even among the conservatives none other than those with extreme right tendencies supported his claim. On October 17, Hwang argued that the April 15 parliamentary elections were rigged and announced his bid for party leader.

Recently, several members of the PPP made statements denying the impeachment of Park Geun-hye. On Monday, Yoon Sang-hyun, known as a key pro-Park lawmaker, said on social media, “I opposed the impeachment until the end arguing that they should stop forcing the hasty impeachment,” and distinguished himself from the other party leader candidates. Lawmaker Cho Kyoung-tae, another candidate, said, “Former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min was a ‘traitor’ in the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye a few years back.” Lawmakers Cho and Kim Gi-hyeon called for nuclear armament as a response to the series of provocations by North Korea, and Kim said that women should also receive basic military training.

There seems to be a connection between the return of extreme right figures and comments and the retreat of former leader Lee Jun-seok. Lee was stern in his view that the party must sever ties with far-right arguments, such as allegations of a rigged election and accusations of ideology. After Lee’s request for an injunction against Chung Jin-suk’s emergency committee was dismissed; the party’s ethics committee enforced additional penalties against Lee; and the police sent his case to the Prosecution Service suggesting the prosecution of Lee for making false accusations, Lee disappeared. Coincidentally, this was also when the “old boys” returned.

One lawmaker representing a district in the Seoul metropolitan area said, “The people who played a major role in driving Lee out were the hardline rightists, so they’ve begun stepping forward thinking that they are men of merit,” and assessed the latest move toward the right as a “yo-yo effect.” The People Power Party, which had marched under the banners, “beyond the conservatives” and “the people’s party,” under Kim Chong-in, former chairman of the emergency committee, and Lee Jun-seok, is returning to its original self like a yo-yo after the removal of Lee.

Party leaders also had to draw conservatives since the president’s approval ratings remained in the 20% level (Gallup Korea). Chung wrote on social media, “The mistakes of the Moon Jae-in government are all rooted in the old leftist ideology,” and continued his attacks on ideology.

The overheated competition for party leader appears to have affected the party’s turn toward the right as well. The votes cast by party members in the election for party leader account for 70%, while the remaining 30% will be determined by a public survey. So to become leader, the candidates need to obtain the support of traditional conservatives.