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People Power’s party-chair election plan reaches a decisive day amid internal opposition
🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

People Power’s party-chair election plan reaches a decisive day amid internal opposition

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The People Power Party leadership is due to continue discussing direct elections for local party committee chairs at its top-level meeting on Aug. 31.
  • Many lawmakers oppose the plan, warning it could deepen internal divisions, and the leadership has already postponed votes twice.
  • A compromise could limit re-elections to selected committees rather than all 254 local organizations.

A proposal to let members directly elect local committee chairs has become a test for People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, but the plan may be put on hold rather than forced through.

The party’s Supreme Council is scheduled to continue discussions on Aug. 31. It has not decided whether to formally place the proposal on the agenda or vote on it. Chief spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon said the council had made no decision on whether to approve direct elections that day.

It has not been decided whether direct elections will be approved at the Supreme Council meeting on the 31st.

— Choi Bo-yoonThe party’s chief spokesperson said the leadership had not settled whether to vote on the proposal.

The leadership previously tried to advance the issue at meetings on Aug. 20 and 24, but postponed it after opposition gathered during lawmakers’ meetings. Critics include members aligned with former leader Han Dong-hoon, non-establishment lawmakers and legislators from the Yeongnam region. They fear the system could intensify factional conflict and weaken party unity.

Many people agreed that it would be difficult for the party to win the general election in its current state.

— Lee Jong-baeThe senior lawmaker described the view shared at a meeting of veteran lawmakers.

Nine senior lawmakers with at least four terms also met on Aug. 26 and agreed to seek regular discussions with Jang. Representative Lee Jong-bae said many participants shared the view that the party would struggle to win the next general election in its current condition.

The timing adds pressure. Party rules require local committee chairs to be elected by the end of August in even-numbered years. Even if the leadership starts the process later, the actual elections would take time. One possible compromise would replace chairs only in poorly evaluated committees instead of holding elections across all 254 organizations.

Shouldn't we shift the focus from excessive emphasis on party members to the public?

— Kim Gi-hyeonKim criticized the proposal’s emphasis on party members.

Jang has continued to defend a party centered on its membership. At a news conference marking his first year as leader, he said his belief in the direction had not changed, while acknowledging that the timing and pace required wider consultation. Critics say the debate has instead become a source of factional conflict. Kim Gi-hyeon called for a shift from excessive member-centered politics toward voters, while Ahn Cheol-soo replied that party members should not be treated as disposable after choosing leaders.

The people who made Kim Gi-hyeon party leader were the party members themselves. Party members are not tissue paper to be used and thrown away.

— Ahn Cheol-sooAhn defended the role of party members in response to Kim’s criticism.
About this summary

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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