People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok walks to a news conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 5. [Photo=Yonhap]
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok said May 5 that lawmakers who entered the National Assembly on a party nomination have “roles and responsibilities” that come with it, in remarks widely seen as a warning to party members backing independent candidate Han Dong-hoon in the Busan Buk-gu Gap by-election.
Pro-Han lawmakers pushed back, arguing that conservatives should rally behind strong candidates beyond party lines. The public exchange has raised concerns that factional tensions could flare again ahead of the June 3 local elections and National Assembly by-elections.
At a morning news conference at the National Assembly, Jang was asked about Rep. Han Ji-a’s recent actions. He said the party has “principles and standards” and must uphold them to function as a public party. He added that he would clarify the facts behind “various situations” and take necessary steps.
The “situations” referred to Han Ji-a’s visit the previous day to Han Dong-hoon’s preliminary candidate registration event. Some in the PPP leadership view support for Han Dong-hoon — who is running as an independent despite the party having its own candidate — as an act of disloyalty. Jang had said on April 23 that the party would take strong action against such conduct. His comments followed remarks a day earlier by floor leader Song Eon-seok that suggested possible disciplinary steps against Han Ji-a.
Han Ji-a, however, doubled down at an afternoon news conference, saying she would go to Busan “10 times, 100 times” if it helps rebuild conservatives. She urged the party leadership to stop “attacking from within” and focus on strategy.
She said she believes voters will choose those within the conservative camp who “spoke up” and made “the right choice” after the imposition of emergency martial law, adding that conservatives need to unite behind good candidates across party lines.
Rep. Bae Hyun-jin, also considered part of the pro-Han faction, weighed in on Facebook. She wrote that Han Dong-hoon, whom she said was pushed out through a forced expulsion, is “a People Power Party person,” and urged the leadership not to interfere with lawmakers’ personal views but to listen to them.
With internal divisions deepening, prospects appear dim for a unified conservative candidacy in Busan Buk-gu Gap. Asked about possible cooperation with Han Dong-hoon, Jang drew a line, saying Han is someone the party expelled on principle.
Park Min-sik, the former minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs who was selected that day as the PPP’s candidate for Busan Buk-gu Gap, also dismissed any merger of candidacies. “The possibility is zero,” Park said, adding, “Stop running wishful thinking. If you entered the race, you should face voters’ judgment with confidence.”
Pro-Han lawmakers pushed back, arguing that conservatives should rally behind strong candidates beyond party lines. The public exchange has raised concerns that factional tensions could flare again ahead of the June 3 local elections and National Assembly by-elections.
At a morning news conference at the National Assembly, Jang was asked about Rep. Han Ji-a’s recent actions. He said the party has “principles and standards” and must uphold them to function as a public party. He added that he would clarify the facts behind “various situations” and take necessary steps.
The “situations” referred to Han Ji-a’s visit the previous day to Han Dong-hoon’s preliminary candidate registration event. Some in the PPP leadership view support for Han Dong-hoon — who is running as an independent despite the party having its own candidate — as an act of disloyalty. Jang had said on April 23 that the party would take strong action against such conduct. His comments followed remarks a day earlier by floor leader Song Eon-seok that suggested possible disciplinary steps against Han Ji-a.
Han Ji-a, however, doubled down at an afternoon news conference, saying she would go to Busan “10 times, 100 times” if it helps rebuild conservatives. She urged the party leadership to stop “attacking from within” and focus on strategy.
She said she believes voters will choose those within the conservative camp who “spoke up” and made “the right choice” after the imposition of emergency martial law, adding that conservatives need to unite behind good candidates across party lines.
Rep. Bae Hyun-jin, also considered part of the pro-Han faction, weighed in on Facebook. She wrote that Han Dong-hoon, whom she said was pushed out through a forced expulsion, is “a People Power Party person,” and urged the leadership not to interfere with lawmakers’ personal views but to listen to them.
With internal divisions deepening, prospects appear dim for a unified conservative candidacy in Busan Buk-gu Gap. Asked about possible cooperation with Han Dong-hoon, Jang drew a line, saying Han is someone the party expelled on principle.
Park Min-sik, the former minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs who was selected that day as the PPP’s candidate for Busan Buk-gu Gap, also dismissed any merger of candidacies. “The possibility is zero,” Park said, adding, “Stop running wishful thinking. If you entered the race, you should face voters’ judgment with confidence.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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