Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon appeared together at a National Assembly seminar and jointly accused People Power Party leader Chang Dong-hyuk of turning the party into a private vehicle. Analysts say the two are accelerating efforts to position themselves as the center of gravity for the next conservative bloc as Chang's leadership wavers around the first anniversary of his tenure.
Oh and Han visited the National Assembly on the 25th to attend a Future Innovation Forum seminar titled "America's Grand Strategy and Korea's Choice." It was Oh's third visit to the National Assembly this month, while Han has joined PPP lawmakers at three debates and seminars this month. The event drew a broad mix of figures, including PPP lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun, who hosted the seminar, along with Kang Min-kuk, Koo Ja-keun, Kim Jang-kyum, Chung Sung-kook, Cho Eun-hee, Park Jeong-ha and Yoo Yong-won — lawmakers variously identified with Oh, with Han, or with the party's old guard.
The appearance of the two men, both seen as contenders for the conservative presidential nomination, at an event led by Kim, a core figure in the PPP's old guard, drew intense political attention. Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok was also invited but did not attend, according to sources. While not all of the figures critical of Chang gathered in one place, observers say contact is broadening among forces opposed to the leader across factional lines.
Oh and Han were especially pointed in criticizing the direct election of district chapter chiefs, which Chang is pursuing as part of a drive toward a "member-centered party." "Introducing a competitive system can help, but everything has its proper order and timing," Oh said. "At a time when public trust in the Lee Jae-myung administration has fallen, we should be mustering all our strength to hold the government to account and gathering energy through politics of unity." He added: "We need party leadership that can achieve the politics of addition, the politics of multiplication — in other words, the synergy of unity." The remarks amounted to a call for a shift in the current leadership. Han said the party was "in the process of becoming a private party, even though it is a public party sustained by the people's hard-earned taxes," adding, "In that case, we cannot check the reckless course of the Lee Jae-myung government."
Both also delivered barbed assessments of Chang's first year at the helm. "We have to reflect on whether the party is doing enough," Oh said, adding pointedly, "Ethics committee politics is the lowest form of politics." Han said: "The party is regressing. At this rate, we cannot uphold the conservative mission of blocking the wrong path taken by the Democratic Party government."
Tension over Chang's leadership is also rising within the party. Lawmakers serving four or more terms plan to meet on the 26th to discuss pending issues including Chang's standing. With a lawmakers' retreat scheduled for the 27th and 28th, Chang is expected to face mounting demands to resolve internal conflict and present a plan for unity.
