Jang Donghyuk Holds Press Conference on His Political Future
On the 3rd, Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, commented on calls from some members of the pro-Han Donghoon faction and junior lawmakers' group for his resignation or for a confidence vote over the expulsion of former leader Han Donghoon, saying, "If anyone, by tomorrow, stakes their own political life and demands that I resign or seek a vote of confidence, I will immediately hold a vote by all party members," adding, "If, in that vote, party members tell me to step down or I fail to win a vote of confidence, I will relinquish the party leadership and also resign from the National Assembly."
At a press conference held at the National Assembly that afternoon, Jang said, "Politics is not a place for making excuses or pointing fingers; it is a place where you take responsibility for what you say. Any member of the National Assembly or local government head who demands my resignation or a vote of confidence must bear corresponding political responsibility," making his position clear.
Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is attending a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. 2026.2.5 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Addressing the expulsion of the former leader first, Jang said, "The party members' message board issue is something we promised party members during the party convention," and added, "If the Party Affairs Inspection Committee or the Ethics Committee had made any mistaken judgment, we put in place a system to correct it through the Reconsideration Committee. But former leader Han did not go through any explanation or appeal process at all, and in the end, under the party constitution and party rules, the Supreme Council gave final approval to the expulsion motion."
He went on, "The issue concerning the party members' message board was decided by the Party Affairs Inspection Committee and the Ethics Committee in accordance with the procedures set out in the party constitution and party rules, and it was also deliberated and approved by the Supreme Council," adding, "Since we followed the procedures laid down in the party constitution and party rules, I believe it is difficult to find any defect in the expulsion process."
Jang further stated, "This is not a case of belatedly taking issue with the content of a post that someone anonymously uploaded on an anonymous message board," and added, "At the time, the People Power Party was the ruling party, and the core of this case is that it was effectively a case of manipulating public opinion involving the ruling party leader or his family. Another essential aspect of this case is that, because it remained unresolved within the party for a long time, it continued to fuel internal conflict."
Jang said, "Based on the decisions of the Party Affairs Inspection Committee and the Ethics Committee, the Supreme Council, which is the party's highest decision-making body, made its decision in accordance with the free will of its members. To hold the party leader solely responsible for this and demand my resignation or a vote of confidence is not reasonable," adding, "Nevertheless, if there are still calls for my resignation or a confidence vote on the party leadership by tomorrow, I will accept them."
Jang also said, "However, the party leader is elected by the party members, and only the party members can decide whether I stay or go. Demands for resignation or a vote of confidence are not a challenge to the leadership of the party leader but a challenge to the party members themselves," and added, "If they are truly junior lawmakers, reformists, or innovators, then instead of doing politics with words alone, taking responsibility for what they say would be the conduct befitting junior lawmakers, reformists, and innovators."
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