Refusal to cut ties with Yoon fuels party turmoil

Feb 20, 2026, 05:56 pm

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Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, heads to a press conference at the National Assembly on Feb. 20 to address the first-trial verdict against former President Yoon Suk Yeol. / Yonhap

Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party (PPP), is facing mounting criticism within his party after rejecting calls to sever ties with former President Yoon Suk Yeol, further intensifying internal divisions ahead of the June 3 local elections.

At a press conference at the National Assembly on Thursday, Jang stressed that the court ruling against Yoon was “only a first-trial verdict” and said the presumption of innocence must apply to everyone without exception.

“Division is the worst form of incompetence,” Jang said. “There are forces exploiting the president’s name for their own interests and others trying to split the party under the banner of cutting ties with the president. It is those forces we must decisively break with.”

He added that the party had already expressed apologies over the martial law controversy and clarified its stance on distancing itself from Yoon. “Repeating demands for apology and severance only sows further division,” he said.

Jang’s remarks were widely seen as targeting the faction aligned with former party leader Han Dong-hoon and younger reform-minded lawmakers, who have called for an official declaration cutting ties with so-called “Yoon Again” forces following Yoon’s conviction.

Rep. Lee Sung-kwon sharply criticized Jang, saying, “His perception of the situation is shocking and disheartening. A conservative party cannot deny the judiciary’s decision or shift responsibility for an unconstitutional emergency measure onto others.”

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also weighed in via social media, warning that clinging to the slogan “Yoon Again” would fail to persuade moderates and younger voters. “If conservatism loses its way, the nation’s central axis collapses. We must seek reconstruction, not division,” Oh wrote.

Han Dong-hoon delivered a pointed rebuke, writing on social media that “Jang Dong-hyeok is merely a host for the Yoon faction. If Jang is not cut off, conservatism will die.”

Observers say the rift may extend to the party leadership itself. Jang’s message differed in tone from that of floor leader Song Eon-seok, who said the party “feels deep responsibility” for the conviction of a former president it produced and reaffirmed the principle that no one stands above the law.

A party official acknowledged that there appear to be differences between the party leader and floor leader, making it difficult to issue a unified stance.

As tensions escalate, the PPP is expected to convene a general meeting of lawmakers as early as next week to address the growing crisis. With internal divisions now out in the open, concerns are rising that the party’s infighting could undermine its prospects in the upcoming local elections.

#Jang Dong-hyeok #People Power Party #Yoon Suk Yeol #Yoon Again