South Korea's main conservative opposition, the People Power Party (PPP), is grappling with a severe internal crisis centered on the legacy of its disgraced former President, Yoon Suk-yeol The turmoil threatens to undo recent political gains, which saw the party's approval rating climb to nearly 40 percent in late January following anti-government protests led by its leader, Jang Dong-hyeok The current infighting imperils the party's ability to present a unified front against the ruling Democratic Party (DP), which holds a strong parliamentary majority
The conflict is rooted in a power struggle between factions loyal to different leadership figures within the party In late January, current leader Jang Dong-hyeok confirmed the expulsion of his predecessor, Han Dong-hoon, signaling a deep schism over the party's direction This move followed a period of rising public support for the PPP, which Jang had cultivated through a high-profile fasting sit-in calling for an investigation into the rival DP over corruption allegations The internal strife now overshadows these efforts, diverting focus from its role as the primary opposition.
The crisis revolves around how the party should handle the political fallout from former President Yoon, who is imprisoned after unconstitutionally declaring martial law in December 2024 The division within the PPP highlights a fundamental strategic challenge: how to move past the controversial former president without alienating his remaining supporters. This factional warfare not only undermines the party's immediate political effectiveness but also raises questions about its long-term viability and its capacity to challenge for power in a key US-allied democracy in East Asia
Mohsin Rana
