Party Leader Conflict Flares: Jeong Cheong-rae vs. Jang Dong-hyuk

Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae has declared 'all pro-Lee Myung' ahead of the August 17 party convention, attempting to resolve internal factional strife. At a Supreme Council meeting on June 17, Jeong claimed that factional divisions like 'pro-Jeong' and 'pro-Seok' were malicious attempts to sow discord, and declared all Democratic Party members as 'pro-Lee,' united in their desire for the success of the Lee Myung-bak administration, seeking to quell factional controversies.

Jeong emphasized that implementing the 1-person-1-vote system, a key campaign promise, would lead to the demise of internal factions. However, critics argue that considering the concentration of one-third of voting party members in the Honam region, it is more likely to devolve into a contest for party member votes rather than factional extinction. Amidst falling approval ratings, the Democratic Party is experiencing internal turmoil, with a signature campaign for Jeong's resignation and withdrawal from seeking re-election gaining traction in an online community of 210,000 members, and clashes erupting between supporters of Kwak Sang-eon and Yoo Si-min.

Meanwhile, within the People Power Party, responsibility for the 2026 local election results has led to calls for party leader Jang Dong-hyuk's resignation. Representative Song Seok-jun called Jang a 'coward' for not stepping down, intensifying demands for his ouster. Confusion is mounting, with the general assembly of lawmakers convened a day earlier than scheduled. This, coupled with People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk's call for a 'full re-election' based on the 2026 local election outcomes, indicates a heightened war of nerves between the leaderships of the two major parties.

On June 17, 2026, during the National Assembly Broadcasting channel's program , former Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Hyun-young and former People Power Party lawmaker Cho Hae-jin discussed current political issues. It was decided that a special committee for a parliamentary inquiry into the ballot paper shortage incident would proceed for 45 days, with Representative Yoon Sang-hyun serving as its chairman. The leaders of both parties are employing contrasting strategies to consolidate internal unity or find political breakthroughs amid their respective crises, leading to an intensifying war of nerves.