People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok appears to have achieved both an offensive against the ruling party and internal unity with a "24-hour filibuster." Since taking office, Jang has emphasized "let's fight the ruling party," and by personally setting the record for the longest filibuster, a mood has formed to refrain from criticizing the leadership. Still, there is persistent speculation that the time given to Jang remains limited.
Jang ended his filibuster on the bill to establish a court division dedicated to insurrection cases at about 11:40 a.m. on the 23rd. Jang conducted the filibuster for a total of 24 hours, setting a new record for the longest duration. When Jang finished and stepped down, People Power Party lawmakers applauded and encouraged him in the main chamber and the rotunda.
People Power Party lawmakers are giving positive marks to Jang's "24-hour filibuster" as an example of leading by example. This is the same for both the pro-Yoon Suk-yeol faction and the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction. The pro-Yoon and pro-Han camps had traded sharp barbs over the apology for the martial law issue and the disciplinary action against former Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyeok, but Jang's filibuster created an atmosphere in which such internal conflicts are subsiding.
People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hee-jeong said on KBS Radio on the 24th, "The party leader took the initiative and showed a willingness to stand at the forefront first," adding, "With such resolve, people in different positions within the party can be drawn together as one." Lawmaker Kim Yong-tae, regarded as part of the minority reformist group, also said on KBS Radio the previous day, "Many lawmakers are paying attention to the fact that the party leader is personally carrying out a filibuster to express opposition to the Democratic Party's legislative tyranny."
It is unclear how long the effects of Jang's "24-hour filibuster" will last. Sparks of internal conflict remain, including still-low party approval ratings, controversy on the party members' bulletin board related to former leader Han Dong-hoon, and the nomination rule of a 70% party-member weighting. There is also talk of a "February crisis theory" that the Jang Dong-hyeok leadership will be replaced if internal conflicts are not resolved. Until not long ago, there was even talk inside and outside the party of reverting to an emergency leadership committee system.
A People Power Party lawmaker said, "It is also true that Jang's response was inadequate when the Lee Jae-myung administration and the ruling party pushed through bad laws and the party's approval ratings were low," adding, "It remains to be seen how much of the outreach expansion proposals suggested by lawmakers can be accepted starting in the new year."