People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok said at a news conference marking his first year in office on the 26th, "The ones we must fight fiercely now are the ruling party and the Lee Jae-myung administration." He said he will continue pushing to reshape the party into a "member-centered" organization, but appeared to take a step back for now on points that sparked internal strife, such as introducing direct elections for party chapter heads or calling for sacrifices from senior lawmakers.
Ahead of the two-day lawmakers' workshop starting on the 27th, the message appears aimed at halting internal conflict. Former President Park Geun-hye, who plans to attend the workshop, is also expected to call for unity within the conservative camp.
At the news conference, asked about direct elections by party members for party chapter heads, Jang said, "There won't be many lawmakers who oppose the direction," adding, "Dissenting views are likely about whether it is appropriate, at this moment ahead of the regular session when we must fight the ruling party and the Lee Jae-myung administration, to raise the issue of replacing all party chapter heads." He continued, "There are various concerns about the timing and pace, and I think it is necessary to listen to many people's views and refer to them to find reasonable standards for timing, pace and method."
With Jang stepping back, the agenda to completely reelect party chapter heads appears likely to be put on hold for the time being. A member of the People Power Party's floor leadership said, "It seems Jang made a reasonable judgment," adding, "If we push ahead with introducing direct elections for party chapter heads right before the workshop, everyone will inevitably suffer heavy losses."
Jang also drew a line against calls for senior lawmakers to step aside. Jang said, "Right now, what's important is to reorganize for victory in the general election, recruit new talent, and show that we can properly fight the government and ruling party," adding, "The remaining issues should be considered and discussed afterward." This marks a shift from previously pressuring senior lawmakers over their political futures.
Jang said, "(Senior lawmakers stepping aside) is something we may have to consider at some point before the general election, but it is not an issue to discuss at a time when we need to fight," adding, "What we must consider now is how the 109 People Power Party lawmakers, the party chapter heads outside the Assembly, and party members can unite as one to fight."
The People Power Party will hold a lawmakers' workshop on the 27th-28th. There had been concern it could go off the rails as Jang clashed with non-leadership and senior lawmakers, but with Jang stepping back, it now appears likely to proceed normally for the time being.
Former President Park, who will attend the lawmakers' workshop, is also expected to call for "unity." People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Young-ha said on CBS radio the previous day, "The fact that the party lacks a focal point is something both the ruling and opposition camps, and both progressives and conservatives, all agree on," adding, "In that sense, the president can bind the conservative camp into one and unite it, and can fully play a focal-point role in helping conservatism revive as a healthy conservatism."
However, since Jang has not changed the "member-centered" line, the seeds of conflict remain. Lawmaker Cho Eun-hee, from outside the leadership, wrote on Facebook after Jang's news conference, "Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, who suffered a crushing defeat in the local elections, took responsibility for the result and resigned. But Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, the eldest brother of the conservatives who suffered a devastating defeat, presented a reform plan called 'People Power Party 2.0' instead of resigning," adding, "While acknowledging the failures of the past year, having the leadership that created those failures undertake reform themselves is not innovation but can only be seen as 'holding onto their seats.'"