Jang Returns from U.S. Trip... Daegu and Han Donghoon Challenges Await

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is set to return after completing his U.S. visit. While he assessed that he had "meaningful conversations" with various figures in the United States, numerous tasks remain for the party at home, such as demands for no nomination and reinstatement following former leader Han Donghoon's official candidacy for Buk-gu Gap in Busan, and the nomination of a Daegu mayoral candidate.

Jang was originally scheduled to return via Incheon International Airport in Jung-gu, Incheon, later this afternoon, but his return has been postponed by two days. Accompanying him on this U.S. trip were Supreme Council member Kim Minsoo, Kim Dae-sik (Chief of Special Advisors), Kim Jangkyum (policy chief), and Assemblyman Cho Jeonghun.

Yonhap News Agency

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During this trip, Jang met with a wide range of political and policy figures in the United States. He met with Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters and Representative Darrell Issa, as well as major conservative think tanks including the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), the Heritage Foundation, and the International Republican Institute (IRI). He also visited the White House and the State Department, where he held talks with officials from the U.S. National Security Council (NSC).

In his speech at the meeting with IRI, Jang stated, "The People Power Party has serious concerns about the current administration's attitude and direction toward North Korea, and a significant portion of the public not only finds this naive but also dangerous. If timely and decisive measures are not taken regarding North Korea's nuclear program, North Korea could become America's next major problem after the Iran war. On the Korean Peninsula, 'peace through strength' is the only solution."

Jang's team evaluated the trip as having facilitated meaningful dialogue with the U.S. side. In a press conference with local correspondents, Jang relayed that the U.S. side remarked, "Allies should speak with the same voice as the United States, but it seems that Korea does not. The U.S. side said that allies and friends need to play some role in relation to the Iran war."

Within and outside the party, considerable concerns have been raised about Jang's U.S. trip. With less than 50 days remaining until the local elections, critics argue that he focused more on post-election moves than pressing current issues. Assemblywoman Na Kyungwon appeared on SBS's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show' and said, "There were various sensitive factors to consider, and I think the timing of the U.S. trip itself was inappropriate." A senior assemblyman from the Seoul metropolitan area commented, "It was a move aimed at far-right YouTubers and his own support base," adding, "It was with an eye on the post-election situation."

Upon returning to party affairs, Jang faces a daunting list of challenges. Regardless of the outcome of today's preliminary primary for Daegu mayoral candidates, he must still coordinate among National Assembly Vice Speaker Joo Ho-young and former Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chair Lee Jin-sook. Before his U.S. trip, Jang met with Lee and encouraged her to run in the parliamentary by-election, but Lee has not responded to this request.

Meanwhile, the landscape of the Daegu mayoral race has been deteriorating. According to a poll commissioned by KBS Daegu Broadcasting and conducted by Korea Research from April 11 to 13 (sample: 1,000 Daegu residents, telephone interviews, response rate 13.6%, margin of error ±3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence level), Democratic Party candidate Kim Boo-kyum received 39-40% support, former Chair Lee Jin-sook 16-19%, Vice Speaker Joo Ho-young 8-10%, and the People Power Party candidate 1-11%. Refer to the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website for details.

With Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo running for Busan mayor, a by-election will be held in Buk-gu Gap, Busan, bringing to the fore the issue of how to position former leader Han Donghoon. Within the party, there is a growing call-mainly from pro-Han and non-mainstream factions-for no nomination, or for Han's reinstatement followed by a primary or unification of candidates.

Assemblyman Jeong Seongguk, considered a pro-Han figure, appeared on CBS's 'Park Seongtae's News Show' and stated, "It's not about making it easy for former leader Han to win, but about not only reclaiming Buk-gu Gap but also invigorating the election atmosphere for all of Busan. I believe Han has a clear role in helping the party move beyond its hardline support base image."

Within the party, many analyze that if the Democratic Party, the People Power Party, and former leader Han Donghoon all field candidates in Buk-gu Gap, the chances of reclaiming the district will diminish. Assemblywoman Na also commented on the possibility of unification, saying, "We should do it if necessary, depending on the situation. Politics is all about endless possibilities and imagination."

However, negative sentiment persists among Jang and the party leadership. Jang also stated, "Fielding a candidate is the proper role and duty of a public party."

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