Holding Firm at Olympic Park, Visiting Park Chung-hee's Birthplace... Jang Donghyuk's "Base-First Politics"

Jang visits Park Chung-hee's birthplace after overnight vigil at Olympic Park
Targets young conservatives and TK's traditional conservative base
Party insiders also see it as "shoring up his personal political base"

People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk is focusing on consolidating conservative support, having stood watch at the vote recount site in Olympic Park before visiting the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee. From the young conservatives at Olympic Park to the traditional conservative base in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province (TK), he appears to be prioritizing a strategy of shoring up his core supporters, often called “base-first politics,” over broadening his appeal among centrists.

Jang visited the birthplace of the former president in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, on the morning of October 30. Earlier this month, he visited the birthplace of the former first lady Yuk Young-soo in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, and on October 26, he attended a memorial ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the former president’s death.

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk pays his respects at the memorial hall at former President Park Chung-hee's birthplace in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, on the 30th. Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency.

By making successive appearances at places and events associated with the former president within a month, Jang appears to be strengthening his message to traditional conservatives, particularly in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. After his visit, Jang is also scheduled to meet with farmers from the Gumi area.

In the guestbook, Jang wrote, “Those who give up cannot win.” At a press conference, he said, “I came to draw attention to the historical distortions in the film Assassins,” adding, “I hope today’s visit will serve as an opportunity to express the public’s concerns and anger on their behalf.”

Earlier, Jang missed official engagements on October 29, including the Supreme Council meeting and a memorial ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon disaster, after staying up all night at the recount site in Olympic Park on October 28. Rather than carry out his scheduled duties as party leader, he chose to focus on the recount site, which had drawn the attention of his core supporters, the foundation of his political support.

While Olympic Park symbolizes the mobilization of young conservatives, the former president’s birthplace is a symbolic place for traditional conservatives who champion industrialization and economic growth. Some interpret Jang’s actions as an effort to shore up his own support base, following Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s acquittal in his appeal trial, which brought the struggle for leadership within the conservative camp into sharper focus.

A lawmaker from the Yeongnam region said, “Olympic Park has lost its symbolic significance as a physical location since the ballots were moved elsewhere.” The lawmaker analyzed, “This visit to the birthplace is intended to secure support from the TK base and win over supporters of former President Park Geun-hye.” However, the lawmaker added, “It is disappointing that he seems to prioritize his own political interests over his role as party leader.”

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