Korean Politics in Turmoil: Will Jeong Jin-seok’s Candidacy Spark a ‘Yoon Again’ Backlash?

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The People Power Party is wrestling on the 3rd over whether to nominate former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Jeong Jin‑seok—who served as President Yoon Seok‑yeol’s chief of staff during the emergency martial law period—fearing the local elections could turn into a referendum on pro‑Yoon forces.

The Democratic Party has seized on the controversy after several figures categorized as pro‑Yoon secured uncontested nominations: former Korea Communications Commission chair Lee Jin‑sook in Dalseong County, Daegu; former vice chair Kim Tae‑gyu in Ulsan Nam‑gap; and former lawmaker Lee Yong in the Hanam‑gap by‑election. Jeong’s nomination battle has intensified the dispute.

Within the party there are concerns that a renewed \”Yoon again\” backlash could sway voters.

On the previous day, South Chungcheong Governor Kim Tae‑heum said he would not rule out leaving the party and running as an independent if Jeong’s nomination goes forward. Kim Ok‑soo, the People Power Party floor leader in the Chungnam Provincial Council, issued a statement urging a full review of the nomination process in the interest of common sense and responsibility, and local sentiment has turned negative. Two‑term lawmaker Cho Eun‑hee also urged reconsideration, saying the move would be like lighting a fire in a house that had already gone dark.

Amid the tense internal atmosphere, the Ethics Committee postponed a private 5 p.m. meeting that had been scheduled for the previous day; it had planned to consider whether to grant Jeong an exception allowing him to run in primaries and apply for nomination.

A special prosecutor has indicted Jeong on charges related to allegations concerning the non‑appointment and nomination of Constitutional Court justices.

Under Article 22 of the People Power Party’s rules, anyone indicted on criminal charges immediately loses eligibility to run in party primaries and to apply for nominations. However, if the party recognizes substantial reasons—such as political persecution—the party leader may, with Central Ethics Committee approval, cancel or suspend disciplinary measures. The party previously allowed exceptions under this rule for Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se‑hoon and Daegu mayoral candidate Choo Kyung‑ho.

The Ethics Committee has not set a new meeting date and remains deliberative, while the Nominations Committee is monitoring the ethics panel’s decision and working to prevent internal conflict from spilling into the public. The Nominations Committee is scheduled to meet on the 4th.

Some interpret the party’s official deliberation as cover for an internal move toward excluding Jeong from the ticket; the postponement of the Ethics Committee meeting has only fueled that speculation.