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What name is it this time? People’s Power Party slammed for yet another name change as “fake shutdown” | 이번엔 또 어떤 이름? 또 간판 바꾸는 국힘 “위장폐업” 비판

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What name is it this time? People’s Power Party slammed for yet another name change as “fake shutdown” | 이번엔 또 어떤 이름? 또 간판 바꾸는 국힘 “위장폐업” 비판

The People Power Party, which has failed to properly reform itself after the December 3 insurrection crisis, has decided to look for a new party name. This will already be the fourth name change since former President Park Geun hye’s impeachment, and the Democratic Party and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party are criticizing it as a “patchwork fix” that changes only the outer shell without any fundamental reform.

People Power Party leader Jang Dong hyuk said at a press conference held on the 7th at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, after apologizing that the December 3 emergency martial law was “the wrong means,” that he would “reestablish the party’s values and direction and push forward with a party name change after asking the will of all party members.” The plan is to renew the party, which has fallen into stagnant approval ratings, and “cross the river of martial law and impeachment and move toward the future.”

This will be the fourth time the People Power Party has changed its name since former President Park’s impeachment in 2017, going from Saenuri Party to Liberty Korea Party to United Future Party to People Power Party. In contrast, the Democratic Party kept its name unchanged during the same period. This comparison suggests that conservative parties have experienced far greater political turbulence.

A party name change can serve as an opportunity to imprint a new image on the public. However, if it is not accompanied by corresponding personnel reform, it can backfire. A representative example is the United Future Party, which brought together a fragmented conservative camp ahead of the 2020 general election after Park’s impeachment. At the time, they promoted “innovation” as the justification for unity, but were criticized for failing to present any clear blueprint beyond changing the party name. They also failed at personnel reform, with the Liberty Korea Party leadership embroiled in controversy over disparaging the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement becoming the United Future Party leadership. As a result, they suffered a crushing defeat in that year’s general election.

Inside and outside political circles, suspicions have been raised that the People Power Party’s name change is merely a “signboard laundering” move aimed at local elections. This is because there has been no sincere reflection on the insurrection crisis, nor a clean break with the Yoon Again faction, both of which are being demanded from within and outside the party.

Representative anti impeachment lawmaker Kim Min jeon of the People Power Party wrote in a Facebook post on the 6th that “Yoon Again is an appeal against injustice,” and said he “cannot understand” arguments calling for severing ties with former President Yoon. Recently, Ko Sung guk, a far right YouTuber who advocates Yoon Again, joined the People Power Party at the recommendation of Kim Jae won, a top member of the party leadership.

The Democratic Party released a commentary that day under the name of floor spokesperson Moon Geum ju, stating, “Changing a name does not erase a party’s sins, and swapping out slogans does not remove responsibility for destroying the constitutional order,” and added, “If the People Power Party truly wants to be reborn, the first thing it must do is not change its signboard, but clearly acknowledge responsibility for the insurrection and face political judgment.”

The Cho Kuk Innovation Party also issued a commentary that day under the name of floor spokesperson Baek Sun hee, criticizing the move by saying, “If a criminal changes their name, does their crime disappear? A party of insurrection that sided with and remained silent about an insurrection cannot transform into a democratic party just by changing its name,” and adding, “This is nothing more than a cowardly signboard swapping show meant to deceive the public and cover up guilt, a cheap trick akin to shutting down under one name and reopening under another.”

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