Opposition Split Over Election Petitions and Jang Dong-hyuk's Future, Clashing From the Start

[Financial News] The People Power Party has split over whether to file election petitions over the June 3 local elections and over the future of leader Jang Dong-hyuk. The pro-leadership camp argued that petitions should be filed in all 16 regions nationwide. The anti-leadership camp, however, strongly criticized the leadership's call for a rerun election, saying it was merely a tactic to keep Jang in power and an unrealistic demand with little chance of being carried out. They also reportedly renewed calls for Jang to step down and take responsibility for the party's crushing defeat.
People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik convened a caucus at the National Assembly on the 17th after the reform-minded party group Alternative and Future demanded that the party reach a consensus on Jang's future and the election petitions. Earlier, on the 15th, Jang's leadership held an emergency Supreme Council meeting and said it would file election petitions over Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Busan, Ulsan, Gwangju and Jeonnam, and North Chungcheong Province, where shortages of ballots and missing voter rolls had occurred.
The caucus drew intense attention both inside and outside the party, as it was expected to address major pending issues. Seoul Metropolitan City Mayor Oh Se-hoon also directly said that "the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership has already outlived its usefulness," indirectly calling for Jang's resignation. He also made clear his negative view of filing election petitions, calling it "a waste of a seat." Song Seok-jun, a lawmaker in the anti-leadership camp who has been calling for Jang to resign, requested to speak publicly before the meeting was closed. Park Jun-tae, chief of staff to the party leader, responded irritably, saying, "Take it outside." Song then criticized the party, saying it had become the worst version of itself after falling into a communication breakdown since entering the 22nd National Assembly. Kang Seung-kyu and others were seen pushing back, asking, "What do you mean the worst?" and tensions surfaced even before the meeting began.
At the closed-door caucus, disagreements reportedly flared over how broadly the election petitions should be filed. Jang argued that petitions should be pursued in all 16 regions nationwide. His reasoning is that if problematic cases are later uncovered during a parliamentary investigation or a special counsel probe, the party should not lose the chance to file petitions afterward, and therefore should file them in advance for every region. Some lawmakers, however, said the petitions should be limited to areas where ballot shortages occurred. Others believe the party should not file election petitions at all.
The caucus is also expected to feature a heated debate over Jang's future. The anti-leadership camp argues that Jang relies on Yoon Again and that the party cannot broaden its appeal under Jang Dong-hyuk leadership, making it impossible to fight the next general election without replacing the leadership. The pro-leadership camp, meanwhile, says the party performed well in the local elections. It also argues that, after overtaking the Democratic Party in approval ratings, the party should focus its strength on a parliamentary struggle to respond to the ballot shortage fallout.
haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter