As South Korea’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) prepares to elect its new leader during next Tuesday’s national convention, frontrunners have focused on accusing each other of belonging to factions that are hostile to President Yoon Suk-yeol, potentially creating a rift between the party and the Presidential Office.

This rift will likely grow deeper if the frontrunner, Han Dong-hoon, former justice minister and interim party leader, wins the leadership race.

Recent polls show that Han’s strategy to distance himself from Yoon appears to have translated into increased support from all constituent bases, including progressive voters who disapprove of the president.