'If Jang Dong-hyuk Doesn't Resign, He's a Loser' vs. 'Should Lawmakers Resign Too If Unpopular?'

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) held a general meeting of its lawmakers on Wednesday to engage in a heated debate over the scope of filing election appeals and the future of party leader Jang Dong-hyuk.

The meeting, which began at 2:07 p.m. with about 70 lawmakers in attendance, saw an intense power struggle from the outset between the pro-leadership and non-leadership factions.

With Wednesday being the deadline for filing election appeals, lawmakers put forward various opinions. Some suggested filing appeals nationwide, while others argued for limiting them to six or seven metropolitan municipalities as decided by the Supreme Council. Another group proposed targeting 10 metropolitan municipalities where the National Election Commission (NEC) admitted issues had occurred.

Tensions escalated as at least seven lawmakers, including three-term Representative Song Seok-jun, openly demanded Jang's resignation to his face.

In response, four-term Rep. Park Dae-chul, two-term Rep. Kang Seung-gyu, and first-term Rep. Lee Jin-sook came to Jang's defense. After a tense standoff, the meeting ended after three hours without reaching a clear conclusion.

The meeting began with sharp divisions over the scope of election appeals, which had been decided during an emergency Supreme Council meeting convened by Leader Jang on Monday.

Two-term Rep. Lee Seong-gwon, the coordinator of "Alternative and Future"—a group of reform-minded freshman and sophomore lawmakers who had called for the general meeting—first demanded an explanation regarding the significance of the election appeals.

This was interpreted as a request for clarification on Jang's post-Supreme Council remark that the appeals were a step toward holding a full re-election.

According to multiple attendees, Jang did not focus on mentioning the re-election but instead urged the lawmakers to quickly decide on the scope of the appeals, noting that the deadline was that very day.

He was also reported to have said that the party needs to contemplate how to embrace the voices of young people gathered at Jamsil Olympic Park.

Jang reportedly argued for filing appeals for all 16 metropolitan municipalities for the time being, citing the possibility that further issues could be uncovered in other regions during a future parliamentary investigation.

Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sig explained that the initial decision to file appeals was made to obtain a judgment on whether the shortage of ballots had affected the election results. He then suggested filing appeals for six or seven areas where issues occurred, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Ulsan, Busan, and Gwangju/South Jeolla, in line with the Supreme Council's decision.

Other proposals included filing appeals for 10 metropolitan municipalities, covering 91 districts where the NEC admitted voting process issues, while some argued against filing any appeals at all.

Some reportedly questioned whether a lawsuit was necessary for the Seoul mayoral election, which the party had won.

With opinions widely divided, the debate on the scope of the appeals lasted for over two hours. Ultimately, a show of hands was used to gauge preferences, and a consensus was reached to file appeals only for about seven areas where voting had been suspended, as proposed by Floor Leader Jeong.

Jang reportedly stated that he would make a final decision based on the collective consensus.

Immediately after Floor Leader Jeong's opening remarks, Rep. Song Seok-jun requested to speak publicly, but Rep. Park Sang-woong, who was moderating, stopped him, saying, "From now on, the meeting is closed to the public."

When Rep. Song protested, saying, "Since the start of the 22nd National Assembly, our party has completely shut down communication. Isn't that why we are in this worst-case scenario now?", two-term Rep. Kang Seung-gyu countered, "Go hold a press conference. Who is the worst?" Rep. Park Jun-tae, the party leader's chief of staff, raised his voice, saying, "Then go outside and do it."

Once the discussion on the scope of election appeals was largely wrapped up in the closed-door session, lawmakers—ranging from senior members who had previously remained silent to freshman and sophomore representatives—clamored to speak, launching into a heated debate over Jang's future.

Following Rep. Song, four-term Rep. Lee Jong-bae, three-term Reps. Yoon Han-hong and Shin Sung-bum, and two-term Reps. Park Hyung-soo, Kwon Young-jin, and Cho Eun-hee publicly stated that the party cannot continue under Jang's leadership.

When Rep. Yoon said, "Usually, everyone leaves after an election, so you should step down," and Rep. Park remarked, "Leader Jang's authority is no longer effective. We cannot fight the 2028 general election with a blunt sword," several lawmakers reportedly applauded in agreement.

On the other hand, four-term Rep. Park Dae-chul, Rep. Kang Seung-gyu, and Rep. Lee Jin-sook, who was nominated under Jang's leadership, defended Jang, arguing there was no reason for him to resign.

However, after the meeting, Rep. Park clarified on Facebook, "I did not express a personal opinion on whether I agree or disagree with (Jang's resignation). Since various opinions were being exchanged regarding the party leader's fate, I merely presented various figures related to the local elections for reference."

Jang, who faced resignation demands to his face, left the meeting room at 3:45 p.m. and headed to the party leader's office.

Speaking to reporters outside the meeting room, Rep. Song said, "This election, which should have been a judgment on the Lee Jae-myung administration, instead became a judgment on Leader Jang, who failed to adopt a proper party line." He added, "I advised Leader Jang to resign, as losing a major election means stepping down to take responsibility under a responsible term system."

He continued, "Efforts to win the 23rd general election in 2028 must begin now, not a year from now. In that sense, I told him that if he does not resign, he will not escape being called a 'loser,' just like a certain former leader of another party."

Rep. Kim Yong-tae reported, "Many lawmakers criticized the party leader for making such irresponsible remarks."

In response, Park Jun-tae, chief of staff to the party leader, targeted "Alternative and Future," which has been publicly demanding Jang's resignation. "I demand the dissolution of Alternative and Future. Otherwise, I will call it 'Future Without Alternatives,'" Park said. He added, "Some of the lawmakers demanding the party leader's resignation are unpopular in their own constituencies. Will they also resign midway through their four-year terms?"

After the meeting, Senior Deputy Floor Spokesperson Choi Eun-seok told reporters regarding the opinions on Jang's accountability, "We decided to convey them to Leader Jang exactly as they were expressed."

Meanwhile, the issue of reinstating Rep. Han Dong-hoon, who returned to the party after winning the parliamentary by-election in Busan Buk-gap as an independent, was reportedly not brought up.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.