People Power Party faces internal strife over discipline and reforms

Internal conflicts are intensifying within South Korea’s People Power Party as leadership disputes and proposed structural reforms face significant pushback from various factions.

Representative Kwon Young-jin has announced he will not seek a legal injunction against a 18-month suspension of his party member rights. The disciplinary action, following a physical altercation with a former floor leader, effectively threatens his ability to run in the 2028 general elections. Kwon criticized the decision as “political terror” and an attempt to silence opposition, but stated he will fight through political means within the party rather than through the courts.

Simultaneously, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok’s proposal to introduce a direct election system for local branch chairpersons has hit a stalemate. The plan, intended to refresh the party ahead of the general election, has met resistance from both pro-Yoon Suk-yeol factions and veteran lawmakers from the Yeongnam region. These lawmakers fear the change could destabilize local organizational control and weaken their influence during the upcoming nomination process. The party leadership has postponed the discussion to seek a more “rational solution” in future meetings.