The assembly, which lasted about three hours, focused on Jang's leadership and the filing of election appeals. Tensions were evident from the start, as members of the pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction and the reformist group 'Alternative and Future' publicly debated Jang's accountability for the election results.
Lawmaker Song Seok-jun requested to speak at the assembly, but was told by other members to address the issue in a closed session. He responded, "Isn't our party in a state of disconnection, resulting in its worst performance?" Park Jun-tae, the party leader's secretary, retorted, "Then go outside and speak."
After the assembly, Song told reporters, "I politely urged Jang to consider resigning. Although the party leader's term is two years, it is not a guaranteed term as defined by the constitution or law, but rather an accountability-based term." He warned that if Jang does not resign, he may face ridicule similar to that of a past party leader. He emphasized the urgency for the party to innovate and align with public expectations ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Other lawmakers, including Kwon Young-jin, Park Hyung-soo, Shin Sung-bum, Yoon Han-hong, and Lee Jong-bae, also expressed the need for Jang's resignation during the assembly.
In contrast, Park Jun-tae argued that the 'Alternative and Future' group should disband, stating, "I demand the dissolution of Alternative and Future. If not, I will call it a future without alternatives." He criticized the group for persistently demanding the leader's resignation without presenting any alternatives, questioning whether ousting the leader is more important than protecting the public's voting rights.
The assembly also faced disagreements over the scope of election appeals related to a shortage of ballots. Jang advocated for filing appeals in all 16 provinces, while floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik suggested limiting the appeals to 6 or 7 regions.
After extensive discussions, the People Power Party reached a consensus to proceed with election appeals in seven regions: Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Gwangju-Jeonnam, Ulsan, Busan, and Chungbuk. Chief spokesperson Choi Eun-seok stated after the assembly that there were four proposals regarding the election appeals, ranging from filing appeals in all 16 regions to not filing any. He noted that a majority of assembly members agreed that a limited appeal in seven regions would be appropriate and conveyed this to Jang.
Choi added, "The party leader has stated he will respect the assembly's opinions, so the final decision will likely rest with him," and confirmed that there would be no separate Supreme Council meeting.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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