"Against Reappointment" "Resign" ... Party Leaders Face Pressure Over Their Future

The ruling and opposition parties have begun reorganizing their leadership structures after the June 3 local elections and the by-election for members of the National Assembly, and the race for party leadership is now in full swing. Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has effectively formalized his bid for reappointment by resigning voluntarily, while Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is holding out despite pressure to step down, suggesting that he is also aiming for another term.
At a Supreme Council meeting on the 24th, Jung said, "This is my last Supreme Council meeting. I am stepping down as party leader." He resigned before the council voted on the composition of the Convention Preparatory Committee and the election management committee, which is being read as an intention to run in the August 17 party convention and seek reappointment. That is because President Lee Jae-myung had previously stepped down from the party leadership just before a vote to form the preparatory committee when he was seeking a second term as party leader.
Moves to check Jung's reappointment bid are also expanding among pro-Lee Jae-myung lawmakers. While Kim Min-seok, a contender for party leadership and the Prime Minister, and lawmaker Song Young-gil have issued messages on political issues, Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-goo announced in front of Jung that he would take responsibility for the local election results and not run in the next Supreme Council election. The remark was seen as a rebuke of Jung's characterization of the results as a victory, while Lee Jae-myung had treated the Seoul mayoral election defeat and other setbacks as a warning from the public.
In response, Jung appealed to party members, saying he would stand with Lee Jae-myung until the end. He emphasized that when Lee was party leader, he stayed by his side as a Supreme Council member through former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law crisis. "President Lee is a comrade and a fellow soldier, and he is our president whom we must make succeed," Jung said. "President Lee and I are a political community of fate. If President Lee succeeds, I succeed too. So do not worry. I will be the first to defend my loyalty to President Lee."
In the People Power Party, calls for Jang Dong-hyuk to resign are growing louder amid public sentiment that the party should form a new leadership centered on reformists. His term runs until August next year, so a party convention can only be held if he steps down voluntarily. Even at a lawmakers' caucus meeting, some members reportedly agreed that Jang should resign.
Jang, however, is holding on, citing as justification the party's victory in the Seoul mayoral election, a key race in the local elections, as well as its response to the shortage of ballots. The party's approval rating has recently even surpassed that of the Democratic Party of Korea. After being hospitalized and then discharged on the same day that the caucus called for his resignation, Jang said, "This is the time to pull together," explaining why he would not give up the party leadership. At a press conference after his discharge, he drew a line against resignation calls, saying, "The party leader's future is something party members should decide," and added that "reforming the party and restoring discipline have become tasks that can no longer be delayed," signaling his intent to fully exercise his authority.
As Jang continues to hold on by citing multiple reasons, calls for his resignation inside the party are weakening. Critics say there is no clear alternative. The most frequently mentioned successor is Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker, but he has not yet rejoined the party.
As a result, some expect the People Power Party's leadership race to take place after February next year, when Jang will have less than six months left in his term. Under the party constitution and rules, if a party leader with six months or less remaining resigns, a full two-year term can be guaranteed for the next leader. Observers say Jang could resign at that point and seek reappointment, while Han could emerge as his rival.
Reporter Kim Yun-ho, Song Ji-won, Lee Hae-ram
uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho, Song Ji-won, Lee Hae-ram Reporter