Jang Dong-hyuk, Han Dong-hoon: People Power Party Conflict Escalates

People Power Party Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk has publicly refused demands from within the party to refrain from nominating a candidate in the Busan Buk-gu Gap constituency. Jang clearly stated his refusal during a press conference for overseas correspondents held in Washington D.C. on the 15th, saying, "It is the natural role and duty of a public party to field a candidate."

A key party official also asserted, "We plan to field a People Power Party candidate as scheduled for the Busan Buk-gu Gap by-election," adding, "It is so obvious that there is no need to confirm our position." The official further stated that unification with pan-conservative candidates is not being considered at all.

Multiple leadership officials directly cited the Jang-Han conflict as the background for this decision. One official remarked, "The relationship between Chairman Jang and former Chairman Han is beyond just being 'strained'," while another stated emphatically, "Former Chairman Han was expelled under Chairman Jang's leadership," and therefore, "nominating no candidate in Busan Buk-gu Gap is impossible." A third leadership official cut short any possibility, saying, "The chance of Chairman Jang not nominating anyone is zero."

The relationship between the two men had already reached a point of no return when Chairman Jang's leadership deliberated and decided on Han's expulsion. Han Dong-hoon, after being expelled on January 29th due to allegations of slanderous posts on the party's online bulletin board, vowed, "I will definitely return."

Pro-Han Dong-hoon movements are becoming visible among Busan-based lawmakers. Four-term lawmaker Kim Do-eup publicly urged the leadership on the 14th not to nominate a candidate for Busan Buk-gu Gap, and on the 15th, lawmaker Kwak Gyu-taek publicly called for Han Dong-hoon's early return to the party.