People Power Party beats expectations in local elections
· UPIJune 4 (Asia Today) -- The People Power Party performed better than expected in Wednesday's local elections, weakening calls for party leader Jang Dong-hyeok and his leadership team to take responsibility for the results.
Although opposition leaders are often pressured to resign after local election defeats, analysts said the party avoided the worst-case scenario by breaking early predictions of a near-total 15-to-1 defeat. The party defended Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, South Gyeongsang Province and Seoul, the most closely watched battleground.
The People Power Party lost many metropolitan government races but held key regions. It also performed better than expected in parliamentary by-elections. The party had been expected to consider even one seat a reasonable result in the 14 by-elections but won four, taking some seats from the Democratic Party.
Overall, the People Power Party lost metropolitan government races 12 to 4 and by-elections 9 to 4, with one independent winner. Still, many political observers said the party had done relatively well under unfavorable conditions. The Seoul victory and the by-election gains are expected to strengthen arguments for keeping Jang's leadership in place.
"Calls for leadership responsibility will certainly emerge, but because the gap narrowed compared with the early stage of the election, the leadership can argue that it played a role," said Kim Sung-soo, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Hanyang University. "The justification for Jang and the leadership to step down while taking full responsibility has weakened."
A ballot paper shortage that occurred in Seoul and some other regions could also give the current leadership political momentum. Analysts said the party may rally its core supporters if it strongly raises questions about poor election management by the National Election Commission.
"Jang Dong-hyeok's leadership will likely continue with the backing of hard-line supporters," said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University. "Even if the party leader or leadership structure changes, the party's direction will not change easily."
Jang visited the National Election Commission and signaled a hard-line response.
"This incident amounts to election invalidation, and the election has already been seriously contaminated, creating a situation where a revote is necessary," Jang said. "We have no choice but to protest this issue using the strongest possible methods and continue fighting until it is corrected."
The election of Han Dong-hoon in the Busan Buk Gap by-election, however, is expected to become a variable in the party's future power structure.
Political and academic observers had said there was little internal momentum strong enough to shake Jang's leadership even if the party suffered a major defeat. But if Han enters the National Assembly, analysts said his supporters and moderate conservative voters could form a counterweight to Jang's leadership.
"The election of former leader Han Dong-hoon is more important than the overall result," said Lee Sun-woo, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Jeonbuk National University. "If Han is elected even after Jang Dong-hyeok's leadership blocked unification efforts, both a center of gravity and room for an anti-Jang Dong-hyeok bloc will emerge."
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260603010001105