People Power Party puts off direct elections for district party committee chairs, reorganizes ranks for offensive against the ruling bloc

[Financial News] Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, has put off a full-scale introduction of direct elections for district party committee chairs. The party plans to minimize factors that could trigger internal conflict, reorganize its ranks, and focus all-out on confronting the ruling bloc. Parliamentary leader Jeong Jeom-sik also spent time on unity-building efforts, visiting former President Park Geun-hye and then former President Lee Myung-bak. Based on that, the party appears set to form a united front and use the regular National Assembly session in September, along with confirmation hearings for a mid-sized Cabinet reshuffle under the Lee Jae-myung administration, as a chance to turn the political tide.
According to opposition sources on the 31st, the People Power Party leadership decided at a Supreme Council meeting that day to delay a full replacement of district party committee chairs. Jang had pushed the 'direct election system for district party committee chairs' as a party reform measure, under which the chairs of all 254 district committees nationwide would be elected by party members. But he has taken a step back in the face of strong resistance from party lawmakers. As a result, district party committee chairs, including incumbent lawmakers, will remain in place until the 15th and are expected to be re-elected through the usual steering committee process.
The Supreme Council decided to introduce the direct election system for district party committee chairs gradually. It will be applied only to 34 troubled district committees. In effect, the party is slowing the pace of Jang's reform drive for a 'party centered on members,' while keeping the overall direction intact. The phased rollout plan was reportedly approved unanimously at the Supreme Council meeting. Even Jeong Jeom-sik, who had previously voiced opposition, and Supreme Council member Woo Jae-joon reportedly shifted to support the plan.
Jeong Jeom-sik, the parliamentary leader, visited former President Lee Myung-bak on the same day. The visit was meant to express gratitude for Lee's support for People Power Party candidates during the June 3 local elections. During the meeting, Lee was said to have called for party unity. According to Jeong, Lee said, "Winning the 2028 general election through party unity is the most important thing," and added, "Even as a minority opposition party, we cannot win unless we resist the Lee Jae-myung administration's reckless behavior." Former President Park Geun-hye had been visited on the 19th.
In this way, the People Power Party plans to reorganize the ranks that had been divided under Jang's leadership and form a united front. With the 100-day regular National Assembly session set to begin on the 1st, and a series of major events ahead including tax law revisions, the Parliamentary Inspection of the Administration, budget reviews, and confirmation hearings for the second Cabinet, there is a shared sense that the party must not remain divided.
Signs of division within the party have not been completely eliminated. The fallout from harsh disciplinary action against lawmakers Cho Kyung-tae, Kwon Young-jin, Seo Beom-soo, and Jin Jong-oh remains, and the Supreme Council has also signaled a tougher party affairs audit. In particular, the audit will reflect 50% of party member evaluations, and lower-ranked district committees will be designated for replacement. Penalties will also be applied to members deemed to have engaged in anti-party behavior. Among non-factional figures, some are even arguing that Jang, by putting Lee Ho-seon, chair of the party affairs audit committee, at the forefront, may be moving to purge those outside the party leadership.

[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter