The first People Power Party general meeting of lawmakers held since party leader Jang Dong-hyeok rejected calls for "cutting ties with Yoon" ("jeolyun," a complete break with former President Yoon Suk-yeol) fizzled out. A fierce clash was expected between younger lawmakers and those close to Yoon over the fate of Jang's leadership, but there was effectively no real debate as a majority of lawmakers left the room after more than an hour and a half of explanations on a party name change and the Daegu–North Gyeongsang administrative integration before the free discussion even began.
The People Power Party held a general meeting of lawmakers at the National Assembly on the 23rd. The meeting began around 10:40 a.m. with public remarks by floor leader Song Eon-seog. As the plenary meeting of the Strategy and Finance Committee that had been scheduled for the morning was pushed to the afternoon to accommodate the session, many lawmakers attended in person. The meeting went behind closed doors immediately after Song's public remarks. It continued past lunchtime until around 1:30 p.m.
This meeting was expected to feature a freewheeling debate among lawmakers over the future of Jang Dong-hyeok's leadership. After the first-trial ruling for the former president, Jang sparked controversy by issuing a statement that represented the former president's position instead of endorsing "cutting ties with Yoon."
However, according to ChosunBiz reporting, more than half of the nearly three-hour meeting was filled with discussion unrelated to "cutting ties with Yoon," focusing instead on the party name change process and the Daegu–North Gyeongsang administrative integration. Brand strategy task force (TF) Director General Kim Su-min gave a report on the party name change process for over an hour, followed by an exchange of views among regional lawmakers over the Daegu–North Gyeongsang administrative integration issue.
As the sluggish proceedings dragged on, several lawmakers left the room. When lunchtime came, lawmakers with prior commitments left first, and others who were dissatisfied with how the leadership was running the meeting did the same.
Rep. Cho Eun-hee stepped out during the meeting and told reporters, "We asked for a brief report on the party name, but they switched speakers and went on for 1 hour 10 minutes, 1 hour 20 minutes," adding, "I don't know for whom this general meeting is being held. I wanted to speak about Jang's refusal to cut ties with Yoon, but there was no opportunity." Cho later posted on Facebook, "At today's meeting, I intended to propose a secret ballot of lawmakers and a vote of all party members on whether it is right to fight the local elections on the 'rigged election conspiracy theory' and 'protect Yoon Suk-yeol' line," adding, "(But) it was no different from a 'shut-our-mouths' general meeting designed to block discussion of this."
Rep. Bae Hyun-jin also said, "The whole country is in crisis, so I don't know why we're talking only about the Yeongnam region's (administrative integration) for nearly two hours. Didn't we agree not to discuss the party name change?" She added, "From what I understand, today's polls show (party support) plunging. I don't know how this is a time to be idle."
Rep. Han Ji-a said, "There was no discussion of issues the party considers important, and we spent over an hour on the party name change that we had said we would not even take up," adding, "We should first discuss the fundamental question of where the party should head, but the order was such that it felt intentional."
On this, chief deputy floor spokesperson Choi Eun-seok explained, "(The reason the party name report ran long) is that as we discussed the TF's two months of activity, we also went over various data and analysis results on 'why two candidate names were submitted this time,' and that is how it happened."
Some senior lawmakers raised the issue of holding the leadership accountable. Rep. Cho Kyung-tae, the party's most-elected member (six terms), said, "If we do not sever ties with Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of an insurrection, our party will be crushed; why are we the former president's burial attendants?" adding, "Local elections are becoming difficult nationwide; if Jang lacks the confidence to properly lead the party, I believe it is right for him to step down on his own."
By contrast, senior lawmakers close to the leadership moved to shield it. Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun said, "You can't change generals in the middle of a war," adding, "When it comes to tying things up and leading the party into election mode, nothing beats the leadership of party leader Jang Dong-hyeok and the current team." Rep. Na Kyung-won also said, "Rather than internal conflict, it is right to toughen our fight against the administration," adding, "Things like cutting ties with Yoon are, in a way, stepping into the ruling party's frame."
Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok is said to have briefly stated his position on the demand to "cut ties with Yoon" near the end of the meeting. Jang reportedly told lawmakers, "Please read the entire press conference statement (released on the 20th). If you read the whole thing rather than the snippets and wording introduced in the media, you will see I tried to convey my concerns and thoughts as party leader."
Jang is also said to have presented confidential polling showing that 75% of the People Power Party's base supports his position that the party should stand with the former president. In response, Rep. Lee Seong-gwon, secretary of the younger-lawmakers' group "Alternative and Future," told reporters, "Elections are a 51–49 fight, so public sentiment is measured by polls of the people," proposing, "Let's gather the Yeouido Institute and experts and hold a public debate."
By the time the meeting ended, only about 30 or so lawmakers reportedly remained in the room.