Jang Donghyuk Dismisses Calls for Resignation: "I Will See the Local Elections Through and Accept Evaluation" (Comprehensive)

Post on Facebook Account on the Afternoon of the 24th
"I Will Do My Best in the Elections as Opposition Leader"

Donghyuk Jang, leader of the People Power Party, dismissed speculation about his resignation ahead of the local elections on the 24th, stating, "I will do my best to see the local elections through and face evaluation with confidence."

On this day, Jang expressed his position via social media, saying, "There has been much talk about my future." He stated, "Stepping down as party leader simply because the situation is unfavorable is not what a responsible politician does. That is not the kind of politics Donghyuk Jang practices either."

He continued, "As the leader of the opposition, I have done my utmost to do what I can and what I must," adding, "In time, the results will become apparent."

Donghyuk Jang, leader of the People Power Party (front row, right), is heading to the conference room on April 24, 2026, at the National Assembly to hold a briefing on current issues. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

In a public opinion poll released the previous day, the People Power Party recorded its lowest approval rating ever. According to the National Barometer Survey (NBS) conducted by Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research with 1,005 people aged 18 or older nationwide from April 20 to April 22, the People Power Party’s approval rating stood at 15%, while the Democratic Party of Korea was at 48%.

One of the main reasons cited for the decline in support is the open conflict over nominations in key strongholds such as Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province (TK). In addition, the party’s grip appeared to weaken, as independent election committees were established in various regions ahead of the elections and some candidates considered running as independents. Criticism of Jang’s demanding trip to the United States ahead of the election has also added to the pressure.

This has led to controversy over Jang’s future. Assemblyman Ju Ho-young, who declared he would not run after being cut off from candidacy in the Daegu mayoral race, said, "One must know when to advance and when to step back." Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon and candidate Kim Jin-tae also pressured Jang by saying it was "time for reflection" and that "he should resolve the situation himself."

On the morning of the 24th at the National Assembly, Jang held a press conference and said, "I will reflect on the reasons for the low approval rating," but added, "With 40 days left until the local elections, I will consider whether the resignation of the party leader truly fulfills my responsibility, and whether it genuinely helps us win the election."

Within political circles, some view the drop in support not as a mere fluctuation, but as a sign of eroding trust in the party’s overall management. Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin stated on CBS Radio, "Many lawmakers, party chapter heads, and party members expected this trend to some extent and are reacting indifferently," pointing out that "the leadership’s repeated avoidance of responsibility and lack of response have led to this outcome."

The aforementioned poll was conducted using mobile phone interviews, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level and a response rate of 17.7%. For more details, refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.