Translation result.
Seeking a way forward amid calls to scale back his role
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk met in quick succession with senior party figures, including former Grand National Party leader Seo Cheong-won and former Saenuri Party leader Kim Moo-sung, the party confirmed on April 27. Facing pressure from both inside and outside the party to resign or step back from the front line, he appears to have sought counsel on how to manage internal conflicts.
Jang met with Seo on April 24 and with Kim on April 26, party officials said. He also met Cho Won-jin, leader of the Our Republican Party, on April 24. According to sources, Jang requested the meetings with all three before traveling to the United States on April 11. In a phone interview, Seo said, “It seemed Jang is considering changes to how the party is run,” and added, “The situation is very severe and difficult, so I shared experiences from my own past.”
Cho said, “Jang told me he would give everything to secure victory in the upcoming local elections and that he has no intention of resigning,” adding, “I conveyed the local sentiments I observed while visiting key constituencies and offered him encouragement.” Some analysts suggested Cho also used the meeting to press the case for conservative unification through a merger. Jang also met with Kim, who had criticized his pre-election trip to the United States.
Candidates for metropolitan governor from the People Power Party in the June 3 local elections have moved to diminish Jang’s central role by organizing region-focused campaign committees. Appearing to address that trend, Supreme Council member Jo Gwang-han said at the council meeting on April 27, “Arguing that we should distance the leadership may be the most certain position — but is it the best way forward?” He warned, “If members of the same political family push one another aside and pursue individual survival, we will all grow weary and the party will lose momentum.”
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