Seoul: Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo has abruptly resigned as head of the People Power Party's (PPP) reform committee just five days after taking the role. Citing rejection of calls for personnel reform by the party leadership, Ahn declared the initiative effectively dead before it even began. He had accepted the position with the aim to revive a party in "a comatose state" and aimed to eliminate the "abscesses and infections" corrupting Korea's conservative politics.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ahn, known for opposing martial law and supporting the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was viewed as the PPP's last credible hope for renewal. The reform committee was set to launch officially after member appointments, but Ahn's sudden withdrawal, coupled with his intention to run for party leader, has left the initiative in turmoil.
The conflict arose from Ahn's demand for a shake-up of the pro-Yoon faction, which the party's interim leadership reportedly rejected. Ahn criticized party leaders for their refusal to authorize "surgery on a critically ill patient," alluding to the need for deep reform. He had specifically called for the expulsion or suspension of key figures from Yoon's inner circle, including former floor leader Kweon Seong-dong and former emergency committee chair Kwon Young-se, who were involved in controversies during the last presidential race. Interim leader Song Eon-seog is said to have dismissed those demands.
This episode highlights the PPP's ongoing internal resistance to reform, despite the downfall of its own president and a subsequent electoral defeat. Kim Yong-tae, another former reform leader who resigned in frustration, had also proposed five major reforms, which were blocked by the pro-Yoon establishment. Those who defended Yoon and his wife unconditionally, opposed impeachment, and failed to distance themselves from martial law plans remain entrenched in power.
With Ahn's committee now derailed, questions arise about whether the PPP can regain public support at all. More than half of the party's seats are concentrated in the Yeongnam region, with just 19 seats in the Seoul metropolitan area. Even in its traditional strongholds of Daegu and North Gyeongsang, party support has dropped into the 30 percent range, while President Lee Jae Myung's approval ratings have exceeded 50 percent.
Despite the evident need for bold restructuring, resistance from Yeongnam-based party elites remains strong. For Korea's democracy to function, a viable and responsible opposition party is essential. With a leadership race expected in August, the public is now observing whether the PPP can overcome its regional and factional entrenchment and adopt a reformist path that restores credibility to the conservative cause.