Strong Statement by 25 Leaders on Jang Dong-heok's Leadership in the People's Power Party

People Power Party, as South Korea’s main opposition force, is experiencing a serious upheaval within its leadership structure. The true statement is that this crisis originated from the leader’s rejection of compromise with a controversial figure, triggering a massive reaction from party insiders. This conflict reflects deep tensions over the party’s future direction and strategy.

Internal Pressure on Jang Due to Relations with Yoon Seok-youl

On February 21, twenty-five branch leaders of the People Power Party issued a joint statement demanding Jang Dong-heok resign from his position. This push came after Jang maintained close ties with former President Yoon Seok-youl, despite current political dynamics showing public reluctance toward such associations. The branch leaders collectively stated that the party needs new leadership capable of distancing itself from its controversial past.

Content of the Statement and Resignation Demands

In their formal statement, the branch leaders emphasized that if Jang truly wants the People Power Party to succeed in the upcoming local elections, he must “immediately stop efforts to pull the party into a vortex diverging from public aspirations” and voluntarily step down. Their criticism also targeted Jang’s response to the initial court ruling in the Yoon Seok-youl case, which was seen as unresponsive to the party base’s concerns.

Impact of the Conflict on Party Strategy Ahead of Local Elections

This internal turmoil reveals ongoing challenges the party faces in navigating leadership and political strategy. With local elections imminent, the collective statement from 25 branch leaders indicates significant dissatisfaction with the current leadership direction. People Power Party now faces a critical turning point that will determine its ability to recover from the internal trust crisis and rebuild a stronger coalition for future electoral competition.