Jang Donghyuk Ramps Up Outreach and Unity as He Launches Street Protests and Unlimited Filibusters

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, has begun strengthening party unity by expanding his outreach both inside and outside the party. With the party launching its first street protest in six years and resorting to drastic measures such as filibusters (unlimited debates) on all bills, he believes that forming a unified front is crucial.

On September 23, Jang is scheduled to have a luncheon meeting with Kim Moonsu, former Minister of Employment and Labor, who was his rival in the party leadership runoff. This will be their first meeting since Jang took office as party leader. There is speculation that Jang may ask Kim, who has advocated for street protests since the party convention, to lend his support to the movement.

Yonhap News Agency

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Around the Chuseok holiday, Jang also plans to meet with the party's senior advisory council. Although a meeting was considered for this week, it was postponed due to the street protest schedule. One senior advisor from the People Power Party stated in a phone call, "The schedule hasn't been finalized, but there will be a meeting soon," adding, "I expect there will be various pieces of advice on current issues."

On September 17, Jang also held a luncheon meeting with senior lawmakers who had been his rivals in the party leadership race, including Ahn Cheolsoo and Cho Kyungtae, both of whom have been elected to the National Assembly four or more times. At that meeting, Jang reportedly explained the street protests that began in Daegu on September 21 and sought their cooperation. He is also considering holding meetings by seniority or by standing committee to further broaden consensus within the party.

Jang’s increased outreach is seen as an effort to strengthen party unity for an all-out struggle. The People Power Party began its street protests last weekend in Daegu, known as the "heart of conservatism," and plans to rally public opinion in Daejeon and Seoul as well. In the National Assembly, the party is considering filibusters not only on contentious bills but on all bills to block the Democratic Party’s legislative drive.

With differing opinions within the party about the methods of protest, discussions continue on how to boost cohesion. Park Jungha, a member of the People Power Party aligned with Han Donghoon, said on MBC Radio, "It seems the party resorted to the extreme measure of street protests too early," and questioned, "Can we really reach the public with old-fashioned slogans?" A first-term lawmaker aligned with Yoon Sukyeol said, "I am skeptical about filibusters themselves, but now that Choo Mi-ae is serving as the gatekeeper of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, we need alternative responses to legislative activities." A party elder advised, "Rather than responding to issues on a one-off basis, it is important to imprint a single issue on the public over the long term, as was done with the Private School Act in the past."

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