YouTuber Jeon Han-gil's Party Membership Sparks Major Controversy in People Power Party Leadership

The Explosive Entry: How a YouTuber Shook South Korea's Conservative Party

The political landscape of South Korea was thrown into chaos in July 2025 when Jeon Han-gil, a former Korean history instructor turned YouTuber, announced his membership in the People Power Party (PPP). What started as a routine party registration has evolved into one of the most contentious internal conflicts within the conservative party, exposing deep fractures and raising questions about the party's direction.

Jeon Han-gil, who operates the YouTube channel 'Jeon Han-gil TV' with over 400,000 subscribers, has been a vocal supporter of former President Yoon Seok-yeol and a prominent advocate of election fraud conspiracy theories. His entry into the PPP on June 9, 2025, under his real name Jeon Yu-gwan, initially went unnoticed by party leadership. However, when he publicly revealed his membership during a National Assembly discussion forum on July 14, it sent shockwaves through the party establishment.

The controversy deepened when Jeon boldly claimed that nearly 100,000 of his YouTube followers had also joined the PPP as party members, threatening to mobilize this alleged army of supporters to influence the upcoming party leadership election scheduled for August 22. His declaration that he would make whoever he supports the party leader has created unprecedented tension within the conservative ranks, forcing party officials to scramble for damage control while navigating the complex politics of internal party democracy.

Song Eon-seok's Flip-Flop: From Dismissal to Damage Control

The initial response from PPP leadership epitomized the party's confusion and lack of preparedness for such a situation. Song Eon-seok, the party's interim leader and floor leader, initially took a dismissive stance, posting on Facebook that there was no need to make a fuss about one individual's party membership. He emphasized that party membership is generally open to anyone without a history of expulsion or withdrawal, and that individual membership applications are difficult to monitor comprehensively.

Song's initial statement on July 17 reflected a hands-off approach: We don't need to make a big deal about one person's party membership. If any party member violates the obligations specified in the party constitution and regulations, we will take appropriate measures accordingly. He asked the public to trust the PPP's self-correcting capabilities, suggesting confidence in the party's ability to handle internal matters without external intervention.

However, as criticism mounted from both within the party and from opposition groups, Song's tone shifted dramatically within just 24 hours. By July 18, he posted another Facebook message acknowledging the growing concerns: As the interim committee chairman, I am well aware of your concerns. We are listening and collecting various opinions about Jeon Han-gil. He announced that he had instructed party officials to review Jeon's past statements and behavior and to examine appropriate measures according to party constitution and regulations. This rapid about-face highlighted the intense pressure the party leadership was facing and their struggle to maintain unity while addressing legitimate concerns about Jeon's controversial background and inflammatory rhetoric.

The YouTube Influence Operation: Claims vs. Reality

Central to the controversy are Jeon Han-gil's bold claims about his influence within the PPP through his YouTube platform. In interviews with multiple media outlets, Jeon asserted that tens of thousands of his followers had joined the party alongside him, creating what he described as a powerful voting bloc capable of determining party leadership outcomes. His statements to the Korea Economic Daily were particularly provocative: I will mobilize hundreds of thousands of responsible party members to elect the party leader and supreme council members that the people want. At minimum, tens of thousands of people joined as party members.

These claims have raised serious questions about the integrity of the party's membership system and the potential for organized influence campaigns. Jeon's YouTube channel, which focuses heavily on supporting former President Yoon Seok-yeol and promoting election fraud conspiracy theories, has attracted a dedicated following among conservative activists who supported Yoon's presidency and opposed his impeachment. The prospect of this online community translating into organized political influence within the party has alarmed many traditional party members and leaders.

However, party officials have disputed Jeon's claims about mass membership enrollment. According to PPP sources, there has been no significant spike in party registrations that would support Jeon's assertions of tens of thousands of new members. In fact, party membership has decreased by approximately 20,000 since the electoral defeat, contradicting Jeon's narrative of massive influx. Critics within the party have suggested that if Jeon truly commanded 100,000 supporters, he would be better served forming his own political party rather than attempting to influence an existing one. Despite these contradictions, some party members remain concerned about the potential impact of even a smaller organized group in internal party elections, where margins can be narrow and every vote counts.

Internal Party Warfare: The Battle Lines Are Drawn

The revelation of Jeon Han-gil's party membership has crystallized existing tensions within the PPP, creating clear battle lines between different factions. Former party leader Han Dong-hoon emerged as one of the most vocal critics, posting on Facebook that bringing someone like Jeon Han-gil, an icon of election fraud conspiracy theories and Yoon Again movement, into the PPP would not be viewed favorably by the public. His criticism reflected broader concerns about the party's image and electoral prospects.

Kim Yong-tae, former interim committee chairman, was even more direct in his opposition, stating on Facebook that if he had known about Jeon's application during his tenure, he would have convened a party membership qualification review committee to block the registration. He demanded Jeon's immediate expulsion, arguing that someone who promotes election fraud theories and defends martial law should not be allowed in the party. This stance reflected the views of party members who believe Jeon's controversial positions could damage the party's credibility with moderate voters.

However, Jeon also found supporters within the party, particularly among lawmakers who backed former President Yoon during the impeachment crisis. Yoon Sang-hyun, a five-term lawmaker, publicly supported Jeon's membership, arguing that the party should become a big melting pot that includes people like Jeon. In Yo-han, another supportive lawmaker, appeared on YTN Radio defending Jeon's inclusion, stating that the party should accommodate people from various backgrounds, including strong conservatives like Jeon. Kim Moon-su, a former labor minister who announced his candidacy for party leader, also expressed support for Jeon's membership, viewing it as part of necessary party unity. These divisions have created an awkward situation where party leaders are forced to choose sides on an issue that many would prefer to handle quietly, further exposing the ideological and strategic disagreements that have plagued the party since Yoon's impeachment.

The Yoon Seok-yeol Connection: A Controversial Alliance

The relationship between Jeon Han-gil and former President Yoon Seok-yeol adds another layer of complexity to the membership controversy. Jeon gained national prominence as one of the most vocal defenders of Yoon during the impeachment proceedings, organizing rallies and using his YouTube platform to mobilize support for the embattled president. This relationship reached a symbolic peak when Yoon attended a screening of the documentary film Election Fraud: God's Masterpiece on May 21, 2025, alongside Jeon and filmmaker Lee Young-don.

The film, which Jeon helped produce, promotes conspiracy theories about election fraud in recent South Korean elections, including the 2024 general election. Yoon's decision to attend this screening, his first major public appearance since leaving office, was widely interpreted as an endorsement of these conspiracy theories and a signal of his continued alliance with Jeon's movement. The image of Yoon applauding at the film screening, flanked by Jeon and Lee, became a powerful symbol for both supporters and critics of the former president.

This connection has made Jeon's party membership politically sensitive for PPP leaders trying to distance themselves from Yoon's more controversial positions while maintaining support from his base. Jeon has made clear that his primary goal is to support candidates who will embrace Yoon and work toward his political rehabilitation. In interviews, he specifically stated that he would support any candidate who unconditionally embraces former President Yoon, making his membership not just about individual participation but about advancing a specific political agenda centered on Yoon's comeback. This has created a dilemma for party leaders who must balance appealing to Yoon's supporters while avoiding association with conspiracy theories and controversial positions that could alienate moderate voters. The situation has been further complicated by Yoon's official departure from the party following his impeachment, making Jeon's advocacy for pro-Yoon candidates within the party structure somewhat paradoxical.

Election Fraud Conspiracy Theories and Their Political Impact

One of the most troubling aspects of Jeon Han-gil's political activism has been his persistent promotion of election fraud conspiracy theories, which have gained traction among certain segments of South Korean conservatives. These theories, which claim that recent elections including the 2024 general election were manipulated through electronic voting systems and ballot counting irregularities, have been thoroughly debunked by election officials and independent observers. However, they continue to circulate within online conservative communities, particularly through platforms like Jeon's YouTube channel.

The documentary film Election Fraud: God's Masterpiece, which Jeon helped produce and promote, serves as a primary vehicle for spreading these conspiracy theories. The film suggests that advance voting procedures were inadequately managed and that electronic ballot counting systems may have been manipulated to alter election results. These claims have been rejected by the National Election Commission and have no credible evidence supporting them, yet they have found an audience among conservatives frustrated by electoral defeats.

Jeon's promotion of these theories has raised serious concerns about the potential damage to South Korean democratic institutions. Critics argue that his membership in the PPP legitimizes conspiracy theories that undermine public trust in the electoral system and democratic processes. The theories are particularly problematic because they echo similar claims made in other democracies, including the United States, where election fraud conspiracy theories have contributed to political violence and institutional breakdown. Party members worry that associating with these theories could damage the PPP's credibility with mainstream voters and international observers, potentially hurting the party's electoral prospects and South Korea's democratic reputation. The controversy has forced the party to confront difficult questions about the boundaries of acceptable political discourse and the responsibility of political parties to reject demonstrably false claims about electoral integrity.

The August Leadership Election: Stakes and Implications

The timing of Jeon Han-gil's membership revelation, just weeks before the PPP's crucial August 22 leadership election, has added urgency to the controversy and raised the stakes for all involved parties. The leadership election represents a critical moment for the conservative party as it attempts to rebuild and redefine itself following Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment and removal from office. The party faces the challenge of maintaining unity while charting a new course that can appeal to voters in future elections.

Jeon's declared intention to influence the leadership election through his alleged network of supporters has created uncertainty about the democratic integrity of the internal selection process. While party officials have disputed his claims about tens of thousands of new members, even a smaller organized group could potentially influence outcomes in a close election. This possibility has forced candidates and party leaders to take positions on Jeon's membership, creating additional complexity in an already challenging political situation.

The controversy has also highlighted broader questions about the party's identity and future direction. Candidates and party leaders must now navigate between appealing to Yoon's remaining supporters, who may sympathize with Jeon's positions, and distancing themselves from controversial conspiracy theories that could alienate moderate voters. This balancing act reflects the party's ongoing struggle to maintain its conservative base while expanding its appeal to win future elections. The resolution of Jeon's membership controversy may serve as an important indicator of which direction the party ultimately chooses, with significant implications for South Korean conservative politics and the broader political landscape. As the August election approaches, party members and observers will be watching closely to see whether the PPP can resolve this internal conflict while maintaining its democratic legitimacy and electoral viability.