"PPP Denounces Lee Administration as 'Plunder and Destruction'... United Front Remains Uncertain"

Internal Strife Deepens Over Yoon
Can the Party Focus Its Resources?
Pro-Yoon Lawmaker Yoon Hanhong: "Tired of the Insurrection Narrative," Directly Criticizes Jang

On December 5, the People Power Party characterized the first six months of the Lee Jae-myung administration as a period of "plunder and destruction," launching a full-scale offensive against the ruling party. With six months remaining until next year's nationwide local elections, the party aims to rally its fighting spirit and shift the political landscape. However, it remains uncertain whether all party resources will be focused on this confrontation, given the precarious leadership of Jang Donghyuk, who has yet to break ties with the "12·3 Martial Law Apology·Yoon" issue.

On this day, the People Power Party skipped its usual morning policy meeting and instead held a "Six-Month Government Evaluation Meeting of the Chaotic and Immoral Lee Jae-myung Administration." During the meeting, Jang Donghyuk strongly criticized, "There is no livelihood, rule of law, or security under the Lee Jae-myung dictatorship. There is only oppression of the people and efforts to save Lee Jae-myung."

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the six-month government evaluation meeting of the Lee Jae-myung administration held at the National Assembly on December 5, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Regarding the judicial reforms pursued by the ruling party, he argued, "They are trying to establish a special court for insurrection cases, allowing the Democratic Party of Korea to appoint judges, and introducing a new crime of distorting the law to eliminate judges they find objectionable. This is an attempt to turn 21st-century Korea into a people's court."

Song Eonseok, the party’s floor leader, sharply criticized the resignation of Kim Namguk, the Presidential Office's Digital Communications Secretary, amid allegations of influence peddling. He said, "I wonder if Secretary Kim's real crime was not passing along a request, but rather carelessly invoking a dignified name. Since democratization in 1987, there has never been an aide as powerful as Kim Hyeonji, the First Secretary to the President. She is the most powerful aide in history."

However, internal party opinions are divided over whether to sever political ties with former President Yoon Suk-yeol, raising questions about whether the party can unite in its fight against the ruling bloc. Yoon Hanhong, a People Power Party lawmaker once considered a core member of the pro-Yoon Suk-yeol faction, said in Jang Donghyuk’s presence, "Let us cast off our ties with the former president, ignore the criticism from die-hard supporters, and break free from the shackles of martial law." He openly urged Jang Donghyuk to cut ties with the former president, directly confronting Jang, who had refused to apologize for martial law.

Yoon Hanhong further warned, "Aren't you tired of the insurrection narrative? We've been exploiting this label for a year. If we continue like this and lose the local elections, the insurrection label will stick with us for the next five years." He also criticized Jang Donghyuk's remarks about "martial law to resist parliamentary tyranny," saying, "Such logic cannot justify martial law. The party must shed martial law and apologize to the people for such shameful misjudgment."

It is reported that reform-minded lawmakers, including Lee Seongkwon of the People Power Party, are planning specific actions related to a martial law apology within this month. One first-term lawmaker from the party commented, "Lawmakers may participate in the struggle targeting the government and the ruling party, but it will not be easy for the party to unite and fight as one."