PPP Engages in Heated Debate Over Re-Election of District Association Heads, Including Incumbents... Decision Expected This Afternoon

The leadership of the People Power Party engaged in heated debate on August 20 over a proposal to have all party chapter heads—including incumbent members of the National Assembly—resign en masse and be reelected through a party member vote. With the likelihood of this reelection plan being implemented rising, the People Power Party is expected to reconvene in the afternoon and reach a conclusion.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on August 20, 2026. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

The Supreme Council of the People Power Party held a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly that morning, spending about an hour discussing the plan to have all chapter heads resign and be reelected through a party member vote. Chief Spokesperson Choi Boyoon stated, "The main issue is how the (party constitution and regulations) should be interpreted and judged," adding, "The Supreme Council meeting will resume at 5 p.m."

Party leader Jang Donghyuk and the leadership are pushing for the complete reelection of all chapter heads, including sitting lawmakers, on the basis of regulations governing local party organizations, which require that chapter heads be elected by the end of August every even-numbered year. Jang has also made it clear that "chapter heads who do not actively fight will be replaced," signaling an impending overhaul.

It is reported that most opinions during the meeting converged around the Supreme Council members loyal to the party leadership. However, as Floor Leader Jeong Jeomsik, who had expressed concerns, and Supreme Council members outside the leadership camp who opposed the plan left the meeting to attend a general assembly of lawmakers scheduled for 11 a.m., it was decided to resume discussions in the afternoon.

Woo Jaejun, a Supreme Council member not aligned with the leadership, told reporters, "There were differing opinions over the interpretation of the party's rules and concerns about the impact of this decision." He added, "I argued that the leadership does not have the authority to carry out a complete reelection of chapter heads, and since this is effectively an early exercise of nomination rights for the general election, it should be decided at a party convention."

If Jang Donghyuk and the leadership push through with this proposal, significant repercussions seem inevitable, as it is closely linked to candidate nominations for the 2028 National Assembly general election. Kwon Youngse, a People Power Party lawmaker, said on SBS's 'Kim Taehyun's Politics Show' the same day, "This is inappropriate," adding, "With more than a year and a half until the next general election, how can people remain passionate if their constituencies might disappear?"

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