'Clumsy unity prevents the party from moving forward'

'Jang Dong-hyeok will serve out full term as party leader'

People Power Party lawmaker Park Chung-kwon. [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Park Chung-kwon. [Yonhap]

People Power Party lawmaker Park Chung-kwon said Thursday that the chances of Han Dong-hoon rejoining the party are "nearly nonexistent" under party leader Jang Dong-hyeok.

Park, the PPP's chief spokesperson, made the remarks on CBS Radio, saying Jang operates on firm principles. "If we pursue clumsy unity by gathering people with different goals, the party will be consumed by internal strife and unable to move forward — unable to fight outward," Park said.

Asked whether Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Han share different political visions, Park said, "I would say Mayor Oh's direction is not all that different."

On whether Jang will serve out his full term, Park said, "Judging by the stance he has taken so far, I believe he will likely complete his term to the end. This is a matter of principle — and it has been a chronic problem for the party."

Park noted that since the PPP was founded, Lee Jun-seok was the only leader to serve a full 424 days. "After that, every party leader had a short tenure," Park said. "Whenever the party faced difficulties, people inside would shake up the leadership, drive out the party leader and switch to an emergency committee — that has been the PPP's pattern until now."

Park added that as the leadership has begun to stabilize, the party's approval rating has been rising. "Of course, part of it may be a rebound from the Lee Jae Myung government's missteps, but stable leadership and a consistent party line are what earn public trust," Park said.

However, Park did not rule out the possibility of an early party convention. "I cannot exclude the possibility that those who disagree with the Jang Dong-hyeok leadership will argue, around February next year, that the party needs to prepare for the general election and that the leader should step down so a new convention can be held," Park said.

On allegations of election fraud surrounding a ballot verification process at Olympic Park, Park said, "Based on what has unfolded so far, I would say there was none. But we must leave no room for suspicion, and that needs to be documented with video evidence."

Regarding supporters who distrust the special prosecutor, Park said the PPP must channel their anger while also playing a mediating role. "The party must represent that anger, and when things go too far, the PPP should also step in as an intermediary," Park said.


mp1256@heraldcorp.com