Senior ruling party figure urges leader to resign for party's renewal

A prominent figure within South Korea's ruling People Power Party has publicly called for the party leader's resignation, asserting that such a move would be the most effective path to party renewal.

Lee Jae-oh, a standing advisor for the People Power Party and chairman of the Korea Democracy Foundation, stated in a radio interview on August 27 that the party leader, Jang Dong-hyuk, needs to say only one thing: "I will resign." According to Lee, this single statement would resolve all the party's current problems.

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I will resign, and that one sentence will solve everything.

Lee expressed skepticism about Jang's ability to lead the party forward, particularly in light of his recent first-anniversary press conference. He criticized Jang's emphasis on expanding party member rights, arguing that Jang himself is the most significant obstacle to fulfilling the party members' desire for change. Lee suggested that Jang's resignation would naturally pave the way for the party to regain a majority in the 2028 general elections.

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The biggest reform for the People Power Party is for Chairman Jang to step down.

Adding to the criticism, Yoo In-tae, former Secretary-General of the National Assembly, described Jang's continued leadership despite recent election losses as a sign of profound shamelessness. Yoo characterized Jang as the "ultimate boss" of politicians who lack a sense of shame, stating that Jang's refusal to step down after the June local election defeats was particularly egregious.

Both Lee and Yoo's comments highlight internal dissatisfaction within the People Power Party regarding its current leadership and direction. Their calls for Jang's resignation underscore a belief among some senior party members that a change at the top is essential for the party to regain public trust and achieve electoral success.

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I see a new species born in politics. I think I'm seeing the ultimate boss of shamelessness.