"The local elections were a total defeat; no self-congratulatory spin" — calls mount for Jang Dong-hyuk to take responsibility

[Financial News] Inside the People Power Party, the June 3 local election results were described as a "crushing defeat," and calls grew for sweeping reform, starting with the resignation of Jang Dong-hyuk's leadership. Even among candidates for parliamentary leader, some pledged to accept the election results and revamp the party. Jang, however, has repeatedly called for a nationwide by-election over a shortage of ballots and has brushed aside demands that he clarify his future.
On the 9th, Alternative and Future, a reform-minded lawmakers' group in the People Power Party, held a forum at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building to analyze the results of the local elections and the by-election for members of the National Assembly.
Lawmakers in Alternative and Future described the election as a "crushing defeat." Rep. Lee Seong-gwon, the group's secretary, said, "The People Power Party lost," adding that it should not offer "self-serving, delusional interpretations that amount to wishful thinking."
They said the defeat was caused by a leadership team led by Jang, which failed to pursue a centrist expansion strategy and instead continued courting the "Yoon Again" camp. They also argued that Jang's talk of "rallying the base" was vague, and that the party should not mistake Yoon Again supporters for its core base. Since Jang Dong-hyuk's leadership was one of the reasons for the defeat, they said he should take responsibility.
Rep. Kim Jae-sub, who was credited with helping secure victory in Seoul as campaign chief for Seoul Metropolitan City Mayor Oh Se-hoon, said Jang's claim that the party won the local elections was "deeply insulting from the perspective of someone who campaigned in Seoul." Kim added, "Our campaign strategy was to keep the 'two-shot' image of Mayor Oh and Jang from appearing," and said, "I even said I would resign as campaign chief if that two-shot image was captured."
Rep. Woo Jae-joon, who campaigned in Daegu, said, "Those who thought about the future voted for the DPK, and those who thought about the past voted for us," adding that "we need to talk about preparing for the future."
Rep. Jeong Yeon-wook, who campaigned in Busan, said, "The most common thing I heard while traveling around Busan was, 'Jang Dong-hyuk must not become the leader.'" He added, "If the party cannot restore its brand power, which has fallen to the bottom, and does nothing but 'shut up and attack Lee Jae-myung,' then the party has no future."
At a meeting held ahead of the People Power Party's parliamentary leader election on the 10th, lawmakers also raised the issue of leadership accountability for the local election results. Rep. Kim Do-eup, who is running for parliamentary leader, said, "We fought the local elections without changing the party's direction," and added, "We need to build a party that no longer gets called the old pro-Yoon party." Rep. Jeong Jeom-sik said, "We need both analysis to find a way forward and healthy criticism, and we must accept them humbly," but added that "the painful conclusion of whether to resign or clean up the mess must not become another source of division." Rep. Sung Il-jong said, "Through the parliamentary leader election, the party must send a signal that it is changing," warning that "otherwise, we will suffer a crushing defeat in the 2028 South Korean legislative election."
However, Jang Dong-hyuk is not expected to give up party leadership. Still, the parliamentary leader election could become a turning point. If the new parliamentary leader demands that Jang clarify his future, pressure for his resignation is likely to intensify.

haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter