Conservative Lawmakers Demand Party Leader's Resignation After Election Losses

Members of the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction within South Korea's conservative People Power Party are demanding the resignation of party leader Jang Dong-hyuk and the entire leadership. They attribute the party's poor performance in recent local elections to the leadership's decisions, particularly the expulsion of former leader Han Dong-hoon.

Rep. Woo Jae-joon, the party's youth supreme council member, stated on YTN radio that the current leadership "did not significantly help" in the local elections and should take appropriate responsibility. He specifically called for Jang Dong-hyuk's resignation, arguing that the focus on expelling Han Dong-hoon and campaigning against him "negatively impacted even the Busan mayoral election." Woo suggested that Jang should step down and then seek re-election through a new party convention to "gather thoughts on how the party will move forward."

Another lawmaker, Rep. Park Jeong-hoon, echoed this sentiment on SBS radio, asserting that not just Jang but the entire leadership should resign. He blamed the party's division and electoral difficulties on the "measure to split the party in two" by expelling Han Dong-hoon, identifying Jang, Supreme Council member Shin Dong-wook, and floor leader Song Eon-seok as most responsible. Park claimed that areas where Jang's leadership was involved "all lost," citing the Busan Buk-gap constituency where the candidate's performance "plummeted" after the leadership's visit.

Regarding Han Dong-hoon's potential return to the party, Woo expressed confidence that it would happen, even if it required a lawsuit. However, he urged the leadership to "voluntarily decide" to accept Han back, emphasizing that reflecting public sentiment is the leadership's role. Park also criticized Jang's recent Facebook post about "preserving the spark of hope," interpreting it as Jang's belief that he doesn't need to resign. Park countered that Jang could not win a party convention in the current structure, which he believes has already "broken."