The PPP held a workshop at a hotel in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, under the theme "The People Power Party: Building on Today, Opening Tomorrow." Although some observers expected lawmakers opposed to leader Jang Dong-hyuk's leadership to skip the event, most attended, including those aligned with former leader Han Dong-hoon and members of the "Alternative and Future" group.
Jang stressed that the party must concentrate its energy on exposing the Lee administration's failures during the regular session. "All of our party's lawmakers must fight with one mind, looking only to the people," Jang said. "The Lee Jae-myung government has only just passed the one-year mark, but the pace of South Korea's collapse is accelerating." He added, "In this regular session, we must clearly represent the people's worries and anger," and said the party must block the ruling party's special counsel bills aimed at nullifying trials as well as a constitutional amendment allowing consecutive presidential terms.
PPP floor leader Chung Point-sik also criticized the government, saying, "The past year under the Lee Jae-myung administration was a time of destruction and dismantlement," and "No amount of perfume can mask the stench of rot." He urged, "We must thoroughly scrutinize the reality of the Lee Jae-myung government during the regular session."
Park made an unusual appearance at the workshop, calling for party unity. While sitting presidents have attended such workshops before, this was the first time a former president did so. The move was seen as an appeal for internal unity and cohesion ahead of the party's fight against the government, at a time when the party has been unsettled by calls for Jang's resignation and disciplinary disputes.
"I hope this workshop will deepen our sense of comradeship," Park said. "The harder the times, the more we must unite around the leadership and move forward." She added, "If the nest that is the party is shaken and broken, the future breaks with it," and "A party cannot survive without trust within it." After the workshop, Jang told reporters, "A state lacking trust and comradeship ultimately weakens the party," echoing Park's remarks.
The Democratic Party criticized Park's attendance. DP floor leader Han Byung-do called it "a truly bizarre regression into the past."
Voices of self-reflection also emerged within the PPP. One senior lawmaker said, "At a time when change and reform are needed more than unity, Park's visit is meaningless," adding, "Will the public understand bringing in an impeached former president in the name of unity?"
