[Why&next] People Power Party's 'Longest-Serving Leader' Jang Donghyuk... The Upsides and Downsides of a Clear-Cut Stance

Jang poised to become the People Power Party's longest-serving leader on the 25th
Maintains his grip by taking a clear stance and rallying core supporters
Options narrow as the "new hardline trio" rises
Whether he will seek the party leadership again remains uncertain

Jang Dong-hyeok is on the verge of becoming the longest-serving leader of the People Power Party. This is the result of maintaining his grip on power within the party by emphasizing a clear ideological stance and rallying hardline supporters. Some observers, however, say this has paradoxically led to the rise of even more hardline rivals and narrowed his room for maneuver.

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok holds a press conference on current issues. Photo courtesy of Yonhap News.

The secret to his longevity...a different political playbook from traditional conservatives

As of October 25, Jang will surpass former leader Lee Jun-seok, who served for 424 days, to become the longest-serving leader since the People Power Party was established. He will also be the party's longest-serving leader since 2016, surpassing the 640-day tenure of Kim Moo-sung, former leader of the Saenuri Party. Observers say his use of a political playbook different from that of the traditional conservative mainstream has proved effective.

Since 2016, the leadership of conservative parties has generally left office midway through its term because of election defeats, except for leaders who took office at the start of an administration, such as Lee Jun-seok and Kim Gi-hyeon. Their failure to broaden their appeal toward the center was a factor in their departures.

But Jang weathered the crisis with a new playbook centered on a clear ideological stance and rallying supporters. A prime example was turning a crushing defeat in local elections into a fight for voting rights. "Immediately after the incident, I urged several potential candidates to step forward, but their responses were lukewarm," a veteran conservative said. "Jang was the only one who embraced the cause and took the lead."

He also sought to rally the party's core supporters. Observers say he has been attuned to their sentiments on issues such as the Dec. 3 emergency martial law and former President Yoon Suk Yeol. For example, Jang has not commented on how to assess the martial law declaration or on the question of distancing the party from Yoon. "For 10 years since former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment, the party has called for broadening its appeal to the center at every election, but hasn't it lost one election after another, with only a few exceptions?" a party official said. "The idea now is to start by rallying our supporters instead."

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk speaks at the protest site at Olympic Park. Photo provided by Yonhap News Agency.

The paradox of a clear ideological stance...a new hardline trio makes its presence felt

But Jang's playbook has paradoxically led to the emergence of rivals with even clearer hardline positions and narrowed his political options. The recent rise of lawmakers Lee Jinsuk, Kim Taegyu, and Joo Jinwoo, dubbed the "new hardline trio," is a case in point.

"As the trio moves to the right with an eye on the next party leadership race, Jang can actually look like a moderate conservative," a People Power Party lawmaker serving a second term said. "In the case of lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, a veteran of the original asphalt-right movement, the mood is to target anti-asphalt conservatives by finding a niche of his own."

Lawmakers Kim Taegyu, Lee Jinsuk, and Joo Jinwoo (from left), drawing attention as the People Power Party's new hardline trio. The Asia Business Daily archive

Another problem is that Jang's clear ideological stance is restricting his room for maneuver. Recently, some conservative-leaning YouTube channels released transcripts of remarks Jang made in private, in a similar vein. Jang's camp dismissed the matter as an attempt to "divide the support base." Park Sang-su, a former spokesperson from the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction, said, "Seeing a hardline-right YouTuber expose a recording from a drinking gathering makes it feel like twilight for Jang Dong-hyeok's 'regime.' Lee Jinsuk and Kim Taegyu are already starting to be mentioned among them as alternatives."

On October 21, shortly after the transcripts were released, Jang visited Olympic Park, where protests over the "ballot shortage" were continuing, and said, "The time I have spent with you will speak for my sincerity." Since June, Jang has continued to visit protest sites despite criticism from within and outside the party, holding on to his leadership.

Attention turns to whether Jang will see out his term and seek the party leadership again

Political circles are now focused on whether Jang will see out his term and run for party leader again. Recently, he has emphasized introducing a direct election by party members. He plans to extend the system to future audits of party affairs and nominations for public office. His aim is to reshape the party's foundations by building on its core supporters.

As a barometer, his approval rating is rising. Some observers, however, say this reflects a benefit from the poor performance of the Lee Jae-myung administration and the ruling party. "Jang is currently ahead in the race, but he's not without alternatives," a party official said, predicting that "behind-the-scenes moves will begin next year, about a year before the general election."

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