Overview
- Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok issued a formal apology, calling the Dec. 3, 2024 martial law declaration wrong and acknowledging the party’s failure as the ruling party at the time.
- Jang said he and 17 other People Power Party lawmakers joined an overnight National Assembly vote to lift the decree shortly after it was announced.
- He launched a "Change to Win" agenda that includes mandatory youth nominations, recruitment of outside policy experts, stricter anti-corruption oversight, and consideration of a party name change.
- He signaled openness to working with other opposition forces on the local elections if they share commitments to liberal democracy and resisting what he calls authoritarian rule under President Lee Jae Myung.
- Skepticism followed as Jang stopped short of explicitly severing ties with Yoon, who faces an insurrection trial, while polls indicate the PPP trails the Democratic Party heading into June.