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Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, and former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon speak at separate rallies in Gumi on November 25. / Source: Yonhap News

People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyuk and former party chief Han Dong-hoon are signaling divergent strategies ahead of next year’s local elections—one focusing on consolidating the conservative base through a hardline stance, the other adjusting his message to appeal to moderates and unaffiliated voters.

According to political observers, Jang has sharpened his rhetoric across major political battles—including judicial issues, budget deliberations and special counsel debates—positioning himself as the standard-bearer for a strong conservative response. Internal PPP discussions reportedly show broad support for maintaining this confrontational line, especially with contentious bills expected to surface during the December parliamentary session. Some lawmakers argue that the party should entrust full authority on floor strategy to the leadership.

However, concerns are emerging within the PPP that Jang’s aggressive messaging risks alienating moderates. Rep. Jeong Seong-guk said in a radio interview that Jang’s messaging had become “too routine,” generating a weaker-than-expected public response even in conservative strongholds. He criticized the assumption underlying the party’s “mobilize the base first, expand later” approach, noting that moderates do not necessarily react in predictable ways.

Han’s re-emergence and growing relevance

Against this backdrop, Han Dong-hoon’s presence is resurfacing as a potential counterweight. With skepticism rising over the limits of a purely hardline strategy, some inside the PPP speculate about a larger role for Han, including the possibility of running in a future by-election.

Han has recently increased his political visibility through social media activity and public remarks—moves widely interpreted as signaling a return to political engagement. Though many party insiders believe it is premature for Han to take on a frontline role under Jang’s leadership, they acknowledge that his moderate appeal could influence internal strategic debates, especially if he continues to send targeted external messages.

A PPP figure aligned with Han said, “Right now the party’s direction and Han’s style don’t quite match. Stepping forward before things settle could look like internal conflict.” Han’s status as an unelected figure also limits his institutional leverage, they added. Still, some believe his outreach could shape internal strategy discussions, especially related to reclaiming centrist voters.

A source in the opposition commented, “Han resurfacing like this is a sign of turbulence within the conservative bloc. The more the ruling camp sticks to hardline messaging, the more indispensable Han appears to moderates.”