Jang Donghyuk Mounts a Staunch Defense Amid Calls for Resignation

Expected to Return to Party Duties and Push for Reshuffling
Internal Resistance within the Party Persists

Jang Donghyuk, the representative of the People Power Party, is mounting a persistent defense to maintain the leadership system within the party's internal politics. He has assessed the results of the 9th nationwide local elections as a "solid performance," and since returning to party work, he has been reviewing a possible reshuffling of party positions, directly confronting calls for his resignation. Within the party, however, differing stances among factions and key figures have made it impossible to come up with a unified response.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th.

According to the political community on June 22, Representative Jang is seeking to resume his party duties as soon as possible. He had been hospitalized on the 18th due to a deterioration in his health. Chief spokesperson Park Sunghoon stated that morning, "Although the medical staff believe he needs to remain hospitalized, Representative Jang is determined to return to party work as soon as possible."

The party's leadership camp is moving to defend its control over the party. It issued a press release describing the June 3 local elections as a solid performance and is also considering a reshuffle of party positions. Supreme Council member Cho Gwanghan expressed his support, saying, "Unless we break the vicious cycle of having 28 leadership changes in 10 years, there will be no victory in general or presidential elections."

There continues to be pushback within the party. At a closed Supreme Council meeting that morning, criticism was reportedly raised regarding the press release on the election results, which was distributed without prior discussion. Floor leader Jeong Jeomsik also commented on the election outcome, saying, "If we do not change, we cannot survive."

Calls for resignation are not expected to subside. The party's reformist and junior lawmaker group, Alternative and Future, will hold a breakfast meeting on the 23rd. The Future Innovation Forum, a research group led by pro-Yoon figures, will host a seminar on the 24th, inviting Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon. Han Donghoon, an independent lawmaker seeking readmission to the party, is also listed as a participant in the Future Innovation Forum.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.