Overview
- On Wednesday Jang Dong‑hyeok announced the People Power Party 2.0 initiative that would create a leader‑run policy committee and let dues‑paying members directly elect more than 250 provincial and local party council chiefs.
- He publicly invited other conservative parties to form electoral coalitions and said he would unite any forces that accept the PPP's stated values to improve chances in the 2028 general election.
- A vocal minority inside the PPP aligned with figures such as Han Dong‑hoon and Seoul mayor Oh Se‑hoon has openly criticized Jang and some lawmakers have urged him to resign, leaving party unity uncertain.
- The reform push follows a weak June 3 local election showing when the PPP won four of 16 key mayoral and gubernatorial races while keeping Seoul, a performance Jang says must be corrected before his term ends in 2027.
- Analysts warn member-led votes could shift power from party steering committees to grassroots activists and deepen factional splits, and some commentators say Jang has yet to offer concrete plans to broaden the party beyond its loyal base.