PPP taps young accountant, reactor expert

Feb 26, 2026, 07:52 am

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People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk (center) speaks at a talent recruitment ceremony at the National Assembly on Feb. 25. Newly recruited figures Son Jung-hwa (left), a director at Samhwa Accounting Corp., and Jeong Jin-woo (right), an energy sales manager at Hyundai Engineering, attend the event. /Song Eui-ju

The People Power Party on Feb. 25 unveiled its first two recruits for the June 3 local elections, selecting a 40-something certified public accountant and a nuclear power engineer as part of its talent recruitment drive.

At a welcome ceremony held at the National Assembly, party leader Jang Dong-hyuk introduced Son Jung-hwa, a director at Samhwa Accounting Corp., and Jeong Jin-woo, an energy sales team manager at Hyundai Engineering.

The party emphasized “youth” and “women” as key themes of its recruitment strategy, signaling an innovation push ahead of the local polls.

Son, born in 1982, has worked as an accountant for 20 years, specializing in financial risk management and ESG practices.

“I will approach current policies with professional skepticism and examine whether they truly serve the public and businesses, contributing to building a sustainable future,” she said.

Jeong, born in 1985, majored in nuclear engineering and has spent 15 years in the energy industry.

“I will convey the voices from industrial sites and realize responsible politics that safeguards our nation’s technology and future generations,” he said.

Observers say the selection of a financial expert and a nuclear engineer carries a political message aimed at the Lee Jae-myung administration, particularly on its expansionary fiscal stance and nuclear energy policy.

According to talent recruitment committee chair Cho Jung-hoon, Son applied for the process out of concern over the government’s fiscal expansion approach.

Jeong has previously expressed criticism of the Moon Jae-in administration’s nuclear phase-out policy and remains skeptical about the sustainability of current nuclear policy, despite the Lee government’s stated intention to pursue new reactor projects.

During the ceremony, Jang presented the recruits with notebooks, pens, a copy of the party constitution and bylaws, an umbrella and a watch — symbolizing the duty to listen to and record the voices of the public.

The party’s talent recruitment committee plans to announce additional recruits twice a week, every Wednesday and Friday, until March 11, the deadline for candidate registration.

#People Power Party #Jang Dong-hyuk #Son Jung-hwa #Jeong Jin-woo