Jang Dong-hyuk Draws the Disciplinary Sword Again as People Power Party Power Struggle Deepens

After being discharged from the hospital, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk is signaling a revival of "disciplinary politics," raising the prospect that the internal conflict between the party's leadership camp and reformists will flare up again. Jang hinted at possible disciplinary action while naming lawmakers from the party's younger reformist wing. In response, Alternative and Future, a group of reform-minded lawmakers, sharply criticized his leadership and again called for his resignation.
According to political sources on the 28th, there is growing speculation that Jang, who expelled independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, may pull out the "disciplinary sword" again next week. In a media interview on the 26th, Jang said, "It is time to give an answer, whatever the conclusion may be, on requests for internal party discipline that were postponed until after the local elections." Requests to discipline party lawmakers who helped the independent Han were filed during the local election period, but the leadership had delayed action.
The remarks are being interpreted as a de facto signal that disciplinary proceedings against the pro-Han Dong-hoon camp and reformists may resume. In the interview, Jang named lawmakers Kim Yong-tae, Kim Jae-seop, and Woo Jae-jun, saying, "They hide when it is time to fight the enemy, but come out first and raise their voices when it is time to attack the party leadership." He also pointed out that Alternative and Future lawmakers Song Seok-jun and Lee Seong-gwon failed to win in their own constituencies. Those lawmakers have been among the figures calling for Jang's resignation, and Jang is now striking back.
The move is being read as a head-on response by Jang, whose leadership has been shaken by demands that he clarify his future. Some polls show that more than half of People Power Party supporters back Jang, and he appears to be using that party support to justify staying in power.
Alternative and Future issued a statement the same day, citing Jang's remarks such as "We are Hwang Kyo-ahn" and arguing that his failure to broaden the party's appeal to the center caused the election defeat. It added, "He shows nothing but narrow-minded leadership, even mentioning names and threatening discipline over healthy criticism within the party," and criticized him further, saying, "If the party is to move forward anew, he should face both party sentiment and public sentiment and, as promised, take responsibility."
If Jang does resume disciplinary proceedings, there is a strong chance that severe punishment would follow, as he intends. Still, some observers say he may be using the threat merely as leverage and will not actually move forward with discipline, since doing so would clearly intensify the party's internal turmoil.
The turning point for the revival of Jang Dong-hyuk's "disciplinary politics" is expected to come next week. The party's Supreme Council and parliamentary caucus meeting will be held back to back on the 29th, and Jang's future and his disciplinary approach are expected to come up. Jeong Jeom-sik, the key floor leader, has also been guiding Jang toward an "orderly resignation," but as the conflict between the leadership camp and reformists has escalated into a civil-war-like struggle, voices are also growing that are urging Jeong to make a decisive move.
haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter