The controversy surrounding the resignation of People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk is intensifying. A petition calling for his resignation, signed by approximately 27,000 party members and citizens, has been made public, while demands have emerged to hold a full party member vote on whether to reaffirm confidence in the leader. Meanwhile, the party leadership has dismissed these demands, stating they are "not worth responding to," and has launched a counter-movement by reporting that over 36,000 people have signed a petition supporting Jang as leader.

Leadership: "Impossible to Verify Actual Party Members... Recall Requirements Not Met"

Park Chung-kwon, Senior Deputy Spokesperson of the People Power Party, met with reporters and firmly stated, "We no longer feel the need to respond to the demand for a full party member vote." The explanation given is that since the resignation petition was conducted over 45 days targeting the general public, it is difficult to verify the actual number of party members. He also emphasized that the requirements for a party member recall system under party rules and regulations have not been met.

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Park refuted the petition, saying, "Even if all responsible party members signed, we cannot know how many of the 27,000 are actual responsible party members," arguing that the petition cannot represent the will of the entire party membership. Regarding the efforts to undermine the party leader, he conveyed the position that it is "unfortunate and inappropriate."

Press Conference in Front of the National Assembly... "Must Prevent Privatization and Self-destruction of the Party"

Responsible party member Park In-gyu and others demanding Jang's resignation held a press conference in front of the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 11th. As the press conference inside the National Assembly was canceled, they had no choice but to speak outside the National Assembly, which they claimed was due to pressure from the party leadership faction.

They urged that the fate of the party be put to all party members to prevent the privatization and self-destruction under Jang Dong-hyuk's leadership, calling for a vote on whether to reaffirm confidence in the leader. Park In-gyu stated, "If leader Jang is confident of party members' support, he can directly confirm the vote of confidence through a full party member vote."

They also mentioned that they had sought the positions of 33 senior lawmakers but received no official responses, urging the senior members to participate. At the press conference site, a banner reading "Jang Dong-hyuk STOP" was displayed alongside the petition booklet calling for his resignation. The resignation campaign side warned that if the full party member vote is not accepted, they will begin the party member recall process by obtaining consent from 20% of all party members.

Movements Within the Conservative Camp

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon shook hands with lawmakers Kwon Young-se and Ahn Cheol-soo, with whom he had exchanged heated arguments during a standing committee meeting, after attending a discussion forum with People Power Party lawmakers from the Busan region. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min met privately with Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok, and the two agreed on the need to join forces for integration, a sentiment Lee reportedly shared. However, Lee reportedly expressed the view that Jang's leadership will not last long.