Seoul:<Text>
The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is set to hold a national convention on Friday to elect a new leader, as it continues to grapple with image issues following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to declare martial law.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the PPP is dealing with ongoing internal conflicts after Yoon, who is facing criminal trials on insurrection charges, left the party in May. His departure followed the Constitutional Court's decision to uphold his impeachment in April. The newly elected leader will have the crucial responsibility of steering the party through next year's local elections.
The leadership contest sees a four-way race featuring former presidential contender Kim Moon-soo, and current representatives Jang Dong-hyeok, Cho Kyoung-tae, and Ahn Cheol-soo. With Yoon's ouster from office, candidates' positions on his impeachment are expected to heavily influence the election outcome. Kim and Jang, both o pponents of Yoon's impeachment, are considered front-runners in the race.
A recent survey of PPP supporters indicated that Jang leads with 33 percent, closely followed by Kim at 30 percent. Ahn and Cho, who supported Yoon's impeachment, trail significantly with 8 and 7 percent, respectively. If no candidate achieves an outright majority, a runoff will be held between the top two candidates.
In the event of a runoff, a final televised debate will occur on Saturday, with voting scheduled for August 24-25. The outcome will be finalized on Tuesday when the new party leader is confirmed.
Besides electing a leader, Friday's convention will also see the selection of four members for the party's Supreme Council and one for the party's youth leadership. This convention is a critical juncture for the PPP, with the potential to either exacerbate its decline or enable a political resurgence, especially depending on whether pro-Yoon or non-Yoon figures ascend to leader ship roles.
An opinion poll recently indicated that the PPP's approval ratings have remained below 20 percent for seven consecutive weeks.