Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is expected to announce a reform plan aimed at transitioning the party to a 'member-centered' approach as early as this week. The party's Special Committee on Organizational Strengthening (Jokang Special Committee) will also be reactivated to reorganize local party committees, as Jang seeks to strengthen his leadership ahead of the one-year anniversary of his tenure at the end of this month.
However, there are concerns that recent movements among non-affiliated members of the People Power Party, advocating for a 'people-centered party,' along with the party's ethics committee initiating disciplinary procedures against non-affiliated lawmakers, could escalate internal conflicts.
According to political sources on the 9th, Jang had initially planned to unveil the reform plan around Liberation Day but is now expected to move the announcement up by a week. This change is reportedly in consideration of the Democratic Party's convention schedule and the Liberation Day holiday.
The reform plan is anticipated to focus on strengthening party member rights. By reinforcing these rights, Jang aims to solidify his support base and enhance his control over the party as he reaches the midpoint of his term. At the first meeting of the Task Force for Evaluating Elected Officials on July 28, Jang emphasized, "The opinions of party members must be significantly included in the evaluation of public officials. This is the path to becoming a member-centered party."
The People Power Party will also reactivate the Jokang Special Committee, which had been inactive since the June 3 local elections. During the Supreme Council meeting on the 10th, a new composition plan for the Jokang Special Committee will be approved, and the reorganization of local party committees will begin in earnest. Jang Hee-yong, the party's secretary-general, will serve as the chair, with Kang Myung-gu, the deputy head of the organization, and Seo Cheon-ho, the deputy head of strategic planning, appointed as ex-officio members. Additionally, other figures from both inside and outside the National Assembly will join as committee members.
While the Jokang Special Committee is expected to focus on reorganizing areas where local party committee chairs are vacant, there is speculation that some chair replacements may occur as needed. Previously, in February, the Party Affairs Audit Committee recommended the replacement of 37 local party committee chairs based on its audit results. At that time, Jang postponed the action due to the local election schedule.
There is heightened attention on Jang's bold moves, as they could reignite tensions between pro-party and non-affiliated factions ahead of the general election nominations set to intensify next year. Recently, the pro-party and non-affiliated factions have clashed over the party's direction, with the former advocating for a 'party-centered' approach and the latter pushing for a 'people-centered' one.
In particular, following the ethics committee's initiation of disciplinary procedures against non-affiliated lawmakers, including Jang Kyung-tae, Kwon Young-jin, Seo Beom-soo, and Jin Jong-o, any further actions by Jang to strengthen his control over the party are likely to provoke significant backlash. Therefore, the implementation of the upcoming reform plan will likely have a substantial impact on the future dynamics of the party leadership competition.
However, there are concerns that recent movements among non-affiliated members of the People Power Party, advocating for a 'people-centered party,' along with the party's ethics committee initiating disciplinary procedures against non-affiliated lawmakers, could escalate internal conflicts.
According to political sources on the 9th, Jang had initially planned to unveil the reform plan around Liberation Day but is now expected to move the announcement up by a week. This change is reportedly in consideration of the Democratic Party's convention schedule and the Liberation Day holiday.
The reform plan is anticipated to focus on strengthening party member rights. By reinforcing these rights, Jang aims to solidify his support base and enhance his control over the party as he reaches the midpoint of his term. At the first meeting of the Task Force for Evaluating Elected Officials on July 28, Jang emphasized, "The opinions of party members must be significantly included in the evaluation of public officials. This is the path to becoming a member-centered party."
The People Power Party will also reactivate the Jokang Special Committee, which had been inactive since the June 3 local elections. During the Supreme Council meeting on the 10th, a new composition plan for the Jokang Special Committee will be approved, and the reorganization of local party committees will begin in earnest. Jang Hee-yong, the party's secretary-general, will serve as the chair, with Kang Myung-gu, the deputy head of the organization, and Seo Cheon-ho, the deputy head of strategic planning, appointed as ex-officio members. Additionally, other figures from both inside and outside the National Assembly will join as committee members.
While the Jokang Special Committee is expected to focus on reorganizing areas where local party committee chairs are vacant, there is speculation that some chair replacements may occur as needed. Previously, in February, the Party Affairs Audit Committee recommended the replacement of 37 local party committee chairs based on its audit results. At that time, Jang postponed the action due to the local election schedule.
There is heightened attention on Jang's bold moves, as they could reignite tensions between pro-party and non-affiliated factions ahead of the general election nominations set to intensify next year. Recently, the pro-party and non-affiliated factions have clashed over the party's direction, with the former advocating for a 'party-centered' approach and the latter pushing for a 'people-centered' one.
In particular, following the ethics committee's initiation of disciplinary procedures against non-affiliated lawmakers, including Jang Kyung-tae, Kwon Young-jin, Seo Beom-soo, and Jin Jong-o, any further actions by Jang to strengthen his control over the party are likely to provoke significant backlash. Therefore, the implementation of the upcoming reform plan will likely have a substantial impact on the future dynamics of the party leadership competition.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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