Yoon's shadow looms large over his party ahead of leadership polls

S. Korea's ruling PPP divided over choice of new leader following ex-president's ouster

- Wendy Teo

SEOUL - As South Korea gears up to elect a new leader in less than two months, impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol's influence is still palpable on the political scene.

His ruling People Power Party (PPP) is struggling with internal fracture in the aftermath of Yoon's ouster being upheld by the country's Constitutional Court on April 4, over his shock martial law declaration on Dec 3, 2024.

While Yoon loyalists within the party seek to leverage the former president's vocal supporter base, other party members believe it is crucial for the PPP to sever ties with the president in order to have a shot with the swing voters.

On April 22, the beleaguered party unveiled its shortlist of four candidates for the presidential primary, which was based entirely on a poll of 4,000 respondents.

The candidates - narrowed down from an original eight - include former transport minister Kim Moon-soo and former Daegu city mayor Hong Joon-pyo, both Yoon supporters. Also in the mix are former party chief Han Dong-hoon and lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo.

Front runner Mr Kim rose to popularity, particularly among Yoon supporters, after he was the only Cabinet minister who refused to bow in apology during a parliamentary session on Dec 11, 2024, for failing to prevent the martial law debacle.

Mr Hong, in a speech on April 18, spoke out against the calls for Yoon's expulsion from the party, saying that the former president had "played a key role in bringing about a change in government under the PPP's name".