PPP names Jo Jung-hoon to lead talent drive

Feb 03, 2026, 08:00 am

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Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, speaks during a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly on Feb. 2. / Photo by Song Eui-joo

The People Power Party (PPP) on Sunday appointed lawmaker Jo Jung-hoon as head of its talent recruitment committee, signaling the start of a sweeping reform drive aimed at broadening support among centrist voters ahead of the June 3 local elections.

Under the leadership of party chief Jang Dong-hyuk, the PPP is also considering appointing an external figure as chair of the nomination committee for the local elections, while simultaneously pursuing a party name change, visits to politically challenging regions, and a reorganization of its election machinery.

Senior spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said Jo, a two-term lawmaker from the Seoul metropolitan area, would be a key asset in expanding the party’s appeal to moderates. “Broadening our centrist base is the top priority for winning the local elections,” Park told reporters at the National Assembly.

Jo previously served as a member of the party’s talent recruitment committee ahead of the 22nd general election and later chaired a special committee compiling a post-election report following the party’s crushing defeat. Under the interim leadership of Kwon Young-se, he also headed the strategy and planning committee. Widely viewed as relatively free of factional ties and hailing from a region considered electorally difficult for conservatives, Jo is expected to serve as a focal point for attracting outside talent.

“I will gather the best talent Korea has to offer from inside and outside the party and rebuild the ranks of a winning conservatism,” Jo said. “This recruitment effort will become the boldest and most challenging political gateway.”

Jang is also set to visit Jeju Island from Feb. 5 for a two-day trip, targeting centrist voters and public sentiment outside the capital region. His itinerary is expected to include meetings with the PPP’s Jeju branch, a visit to the Jeju 4·3 Peace Park, Gangjeong Village near the Jeju naval base, and Dongmun Market. After the Jeju visit, Jang plans to resume monthly outreach trips to the Honam region.

The party aims to finalize the appointment of the local election nomination committee chair within the week, with multiple candidates currently under consideration. The PPP has also formed a National Policy Alternatives Expert Committee, appointing former Kyung Hee University president Han Geun-tae and senior supreme council member Shin Dong-wook as co-chairs.

Organizational restructuring is also underway following internal audits and evaluations of elected officials, raising the possibility of sweeping personnel changes among local party heads. Regarding the party name change, the leadership plans to narrow the options to two or three candidates by around Feb. 18 and submit them for final approval at a supreme council meeting on Feb. 23.

Jang is scheduled to deliver a floor speech on Feb. 4 outlining the party’s future direction and policy stance, including messages on economic issues such as housing and tariffs, as well as youth-friendly initiatives. A party official said the speech would focus on “how to overcome the current crisis and move toward the future,” while presenting a clearer vision for the party’s path forward.

#People Power Party #Jo Jung-hoon #talent recruitment #party reform