PPP boosts central nomination power under Jang

Feb 19, 2026, 09:06 am

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People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk. /Yonhap

Jang Dong-hyuk is consolidating his leadership within the People Power Party ahead of the June 3 local elections, reinforcing central party control over nominations and revising internal rules to preserve his leadership structure.

According to political sources on Feb. 18, Jang has been pursuing personnel and institutional realignment aimed at curbing the influence of the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction and strengthening his grip on the party.

On Feb. 12, just before the Lunar New Year holiday, the party approved amendments to its constitution and bylaws. The key revision stipulates that if a Supreme Council member resigns to run for public office, the party will hold a by-election to fill the vacancy rather than transition to an emergency leadership committee.

Under previous rules, if four out of five elected Supreme Council members resigned, the party would automatically shift to an emergency committee system. The amendment allows Jang to maintain his leadership structure even if multiple top officials step down to contest elections, enabling partial replacements without dismantling the existing leadership.

Currently, Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won has declared his candidacy for North Gyeongsang governor, while Yang Hyang-ja and Kim Min-soo are also reportedly considering runs in local or by-elections.

Expanded central nomination authority

The party has also expanded the central leadership’s authority over nominations in certain basic local governments with populations exceeding 500,000 — areas where several pro-Han figures serve as party district heads.

These include Songpa District (Gap and Byeong), chaired respectively by Rep. Park Jung-hoon and Kim Geun-sik, and Gangnam District (Byeong), led by Rep. Ko Dong-jin.

Rep. Bae Hyun-jin, who chairs the Seoul chapter and serves as the Songpa (Eul) district head, recently received disciplinary action from the party’s Central Ethics Committee. She has been suspended from party membership for one year, rendering her unable to exercise nomination authority in the upcoming local elections.

Observers say the combination of rule changes, expanded central nomination powers and disciplinary measures against pro-Han figures signals Jang’s determination to solidify control over party affairs ahead of a crucial electoral test.

#Jang Dong-hyuk #People Power Party #nomination authority