Zhang Dong-he refuses to distance himself from Yoon Seok-youl, the reason for his resignation amid growing factional disputes within the People Power Party

According to Jin10 data, South Korea’s largest opposition party, the People Power Party, is embroiled in serious internal disagreements. Recently, 25 current and former local branch leaders issued a joint statement publicly demanding that party leader Jang Dong-hyuk resign immediately. The reason behind this resignation demand is not simply a party dispute but reflects a deep internal split over key political decisions within the party.

Escalating Internal Pressure and the Dilemma of Key Figures

The joint statement signed by 25 party officials marks the publicization of internal conflicts within the People Power Party. The statement directly targets Jang Dong-hyuk’s core issue: his insistence on maintaining close ties with former President Yoon Suk-yeol. These party members believe Jang should proactively distance himself from Yoon, rather than continue to sustain this controversial relationship. The opposition between the party leader and internal factions highlights the fundamental reason for the resignation demand—there are profound disagreements within the party about the stance toward the former leader.

Practical Considerations of Local Election Strategies

The statement emphasizes that if Jang Dong-hyuk hopes for victory in the upcoming local elections, he must stop “leading the party into a quagmire that diverges from public opinion.” The resignation demand involves the party’s survival strategy—maintaining close ties with the former president under judicial scrutiny could provoke negative reactions among voters. Party officials believe that Jang’s “unconditional support” for Yoon is becoming a burden in local elections, damaging the party’s overall image.

Judicial Rulings Widen Internal Divisions

The first-instance verdict in Yoon Suk-yeol’s case became the trigger for this internal conflict. Jang Dong-hyuk’s response to the ruling has sparked severe criticism within the party. This indicates that the judicial process is reinforcing fundamental differences among factions regarding the party’s future direction. The formation of the resignation demand is rooted in the irreconcilable opposition between the party leader’s stance and internal public opinion when the former president faces legal difficulties.

The Party’s Future at a Crossroads

This “internal strife” reflects the deep crisis facing the People Power Party. Maintaining ties with the former president could harm electoral prospects, but severing those ties entirely would mean betraying traditional supporters. Jang Dong-hyuk faces not only internal pressure but also a dilemma about the party’s overall development path. Those calling for his resignation are essentially seeking a way out of the party’s predicament—either by replacing the leader or by accepting their political stance.