People Power Party Fails to Unite, Lawmakers Seek Their Own Survival

According to Financial News, the People Power Party (PPP) has entered a phase where its members are seeking their own survival ahead of the June 3 local elections. The party has failed to form a united front under the leadership of Chair Jang Dong-hyeok. While Jang and the pro-leadership camp continue moves aimed at "consolidating conservatives," observers say the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction within the People Power Party and first- and second-term lawmakers are each trying to build their own power bases.
The study group for first- and second-term PPP lawmakers, "Policy 2830," held its inaugural general meeting on the 30th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. The group is described as being formed mainly by lawmakers who do not belong to any specific faction, such as the pro-Han faction or the pro-leadership camp.
Second-term lawmaker Park Hyung-soo serves as chair, and first-term lawmaker Park Sumin is the secretary-general. In addition, second-term lawmakers Kim Hyeong-dong, Bae Jun-young, Seo Il-jun, Jo Jeong-hoon, and Choi Hyung-du, as well as first-term lawmakers Kang Sun-young, Kim Ki-woong, Kim Dai-sik, Kim Jang-gyeom, Kwak Kyu-taek, Park Sumin, Park Chung-kwon, Seo Ji-young, Lee Sang-hwi, Lee Jong-wook, Cho Seung-hwan, Choi Bo-yoon, Choi Su-jin, and Choi Eun-seok, are among the 22 members who joined.
The name Policy 2830 reflects the group’s aim to study policy in preparation for the 2028 general election and the 2030 presidential election. As the party’s image as a policy-driven organization has faded, the group says it intends to develop policies and pledges that uphold conservative identity.
In particular, the group believes that the current government and ruling party’s policies are undermining South Korea’s economic growth engine, and it plans to put forward countermeasures. The members intend to divide their work into three sections—politics, economy, and foreign affairs and security—and invite outside experts for discussions.
With the emergence of another study group inside the PPP following "Alternative and Future," some analysts say lawmakers are moving to organize their own factions. Alternative and Future had strongly criticized Chair Jang Dong-hyeok for refusing to apologize over the martial law controversy and for rejecting calls to cut ties with former President Yoon Suk Yeol, but it is currently not holding regular activities as it focuses on the local elections. Policy 2830 is reportedly excluding lawmakers from the pro-Han faction and from Alternative and Future.
As forecasts grow that the PPP under Chair Jang Dong-hyeok’s leadership will suffer a crushing defeat in the local elections, including in Daegu, lawmakers appear to be turning to their own survival strategies with an eye on the upcoming general and presidential elections.
haeram@fnnews.com Lee Haeram Reporter