KB News Desk
Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, chair of the main opposition People Power Party, on Wednesday hinted at forming a coalition with other right-wing parties in a bid to widen the parties’ reach.
In a press conference to mark his first anniversary since taking office in August 2025, Jang said his party was willing to team up with any other conservative forces willing to uphold his party’s conservative values.
“I will unite with any force to fight together and make every effort to seize power together,” Jang told reporters, adding his party has cherished the values of liberal democracy, the rule of law, a market-driven economy and a stronger alliance between South Korea and the United States to counter national security threats.
“I will not hesitate to form any coalition with conservative forces willing to align themselves with the role that a conservative party has played in the entire process of the country’s foundation and development.”
This follows Jang’s efforts to lay the groundwork for his party to win a majority of seats in the 2028 general election.
Two conservative parties ― the main opposition People Power Party and the minor Reform Party ― hold seats in parliament, while other far-right parties do not.
The People Power Party has 109 lawmakers in the 300-seat National Assembly. Jang’s term ends in 2027.
Jang is seeking to attract politicians to the party to “competently fight” its political opponents, namely the Democratic Party of Korea that holds a majority in the National Assembly and the liberal administration of President Lee Jae Myung.
Jang also suggested introducing a direct voting mechanism that would allow rank-and-file party members to elect leaders of over 250 party councils ― which serve as regional party affiliates nationwide ― in a move to empower some 1 million dues-paying party members. The party currently elects council leaders through their respective steering committees.
Asked how Jang would persuade the party, in a reference to opposition raised by lawmakers at a general assembly last week, Jang said he was confident about his idea to introduce a direct voting system, but added he would collect more opinions.
Jang’s press conference came amid pressure from a minority faction of detractors within the party who are allied with prominent right-wing figures such as former People Power Party chair and independent lawmaker Rep. Han Dong-hoon and Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon.
People Power Party Rep. Lee Seong-kweun, one of the members of the faction sympathizing with Han, said in a Facebook post that Jang should resign, calling his past year of leadership, including the June 3 election outcome, a “failure.”
“As Jang relies on a hardline support base and fails to achieve a rational shift, I cannot agree with how Jang intends to build a strong party while the public sentiment is drifting away from him,” he said.
“Taking responsibility for the failures of the past year and stepping down is … the only starting point for the People Power Party’s reform.”
This followed criticism from Han and Oh targeting Jang’s leadership.
Regarding the accusations that the party under Jang’s leadership had selectively imposed heavy disciplinary actions on so-called dissenters, Han said the party was “walking backwards toward Jang’s move to make the party his own private instrument,” while Oh called for Jang to embrace his detractors.
