The People Power Party declared a shift in course by issuing a "sever ties with Yoon (a break with former President Yoon Suk-yeol)" resolution in the name of all its lawmakers. With a little over 80 days left until the June 3 local elections, the party moved to draw a line against the "Yoon again" faction. But criticism is mounting that the party stopped short of reversing the expulsion of former leader Han Dong-hoon, leaving embers of internal strife.
◇ PPP "sever ties with Yoon" resolution draws "late but welcome" response inside the party
The People Power Party issued the resolution after an emergency general meeting of lawmakers that ran for about three hours at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 9th. The resolution specified four items: ▲ a public apology for the Dec. 3 martial law proclamation ▲ clear opposition to any and all claims demanding the former president's political return ▲ a halt to all actions and remarks that amplify intra-party conflict ▲ solidarity with the public who agree to respect constitutional values.
Floor leader Song Eon-seog, who read the resolution, told reporters right after the meeting, "We drafted the resolution with content agreed upon by all lawmakers, including leader Jang Dong-hyeok." He stressed that Jang, who had been lukewarm about severing ties with Yoon, also agreed to oppose "Yoon again."
Inside the party, the assessment is that the conflict has entered a partial de-escalation phase after the resolution. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who had not applied by the candidate registration deadline, saying party line-setting was a prerequisite, said right after the resolution was announced the previous day, "At last, from our party's standpoint, the minimum footing to hold an election has been laid."
Rep. Kim Yong-tae, a former emergency committee chair, appeared on SBS Radio that day and said, "Changing the line does not mean we can win the local elections, but even so, it is the minimum precondition, so I'm satisfied," adding, "It is late, but I'm relieved that we at least resolved to do this yesterday and can show that things can change going forward."
◇ Criticism of a "half severance" too… attention on leader Jang Dong-hyeok's next steps
Still, in and outside political circles, some say the People Power Party's resolution is a "half severance." That is because it did not address the disciplinary issue of former leader Han Dong-hoon, the core point of contention in the party's internal strife. At the general meeting the previous day, several lawmakers argued that Han's expulsion should be revoked, but that was ultimately not accepted. On this, floor leader Song said, "Some parts require a supreme council decision, and there are variables the party leader must deliberate on, so we did not include that matter in this resolution."
Han, the person at the center of the issue, downplayed the resolution on KBS Radio that day. Han said, "Rather than opposing the former president's political return, the party should clearly oppose defending martial law, opposing impeachment, and conspiracy theories about a fraudulent election," adding, "Unless the party normalizes the series of unfair purges and expulsions carried out for the 'Yoon again' line, the public will see this resolution as only for cover."
Differences in tone are also evident in the leadership. After attending the 80th anniversary ceremony of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, Jang fielded a question about "severing ties with Yoon" and only said, "I already stated my position through the chief spokesperson after the resolution was adopted." As for why he did not speak at the general meeting, he said, "I listened well to the various opinions of the lawmakers."
Supreme Council member Jo Gwang-han, from the pro-leadership camp, said on YTN Radio, "Severing ties with Yoon was all wrapped up in the last presidential election. He left the party, and a break—almost a clear line-drawing—was made then," adding, "The former president's political return is already impossible. The resolution is a declarative message to take a broader course of action and an effort, a struggle, to define our thinking and mindset."
The key is how concretely leader Jang Dong-hyeok will carry out the declaration opposing "Yoon again." Considering that the resolution was read not by Jang but by floor leader Song the previous day and that it did not specify a complete break with the former president, many say follow-up measures should be watched.