S. Korea ruling party in disarray, but split unlikely before election

Analysts expect PPP to stay united as it prepares for possible snap presidential polls

- Wendy Teo

SEOUL - Is it all over for South Korea's ruling People Power Party (PPP)? Despite the deep rift within the party following President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on Dec 3 and his subsequent impeachment, analysts expect the PPP to stay united as it prepares to meet another major challenge a snap presidential election should the Constitutional Court uphold Mr Yoon's impeachment.

Whether it can win the election to stay in power is a less certain prospect.

The PPP's fracture came to the fore on Dec 14, when at least 12 of its 108 lawmakers breached party lines to vote for the impeachment of Mr Yoon, bringing the total to 204, slightly past the required two-thirds majority in the 300-member legislature.

Right after the motion was passed, five members of the party's supreme council announced their resignation, effectively leading to the collapse of the party's leadership.

Two days later, party chief HanDong-hoon announced his E resignation from the post after facing immense pressure from the party to step down and take responsibility for Mr Yoon's impeachment.

Floor leader Kweon Seong-dong is now the interim party leader, facing the urgent task of appointing members to an emergency response committee to steer the party forward.

However, this fault line in the party, between Mr Han and his faction that had supported the impeachment, and Mr Yoon's supporters, is unlikely to widen into a splintering of the PPP.