On February 20, 2026, South Korea’s political scene was rocked by a storm of controversy as Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party (PPP), delivered a press conference that sent shockwaves through his own party and the nation. This came just one day after former President Yoon Seok-yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment for leading what the court called a rebellion—an unprecedented verdict in modern Korean politics.
Rather than issue an apology or distance the party from Yoon, Jang Dong-hyuk doubled down. He questioned the court’s logic, stating, "A judgment without conviction inevitably carries a tremor of conscience. I believe the logical flaws found throughout the ruling are the last traces of conscience left by the presiding judge." According to JoongAng Ilbo, Jang went on to assert that the PPP had always maintained, "Martial law is not equivalent to rebellion," and criticized the court’s decision for, in his view, failing to overturn this position with sufficient explanation.
Jang’s remarks did not stop there. He insisted on the presumption of innocence for Yoon Seok-yeol, arguing, "It is still a first-instance verdict. The principle of presumption of innocence must be applied to everyone without exception." He also rejected calls within the party to sever ties with the former president, remarking, "Repeating calls for apology and severance only sows the seeds of division." As reported by Kyunghyang Shinmun, Jang went so far as to liken the Democratic Party’s actions to a silent rebellion, accusing them of paralyzing government functions, and suggested that this was not so different from the charges leveled against Yoon.
The reaction was immediate and fierce. Within the PPP, criticism erupted from all directions. Kim Young-woo, a former member of the party, didn’t mince words: "Is Jang Dong-hyuk out of his mind?" he asked, expressing deep anger at what he saw as reckless behavior. Kim lamented, "I can’t understand how a once diligent and humorous junior politician could now treat politics so carelessly, as if drunk and leaping about." He further condemned the party’s ongoing defense of the martial law issue as a "catastrophic mistake," warning that such actions risked being seen by the public as a prelude to a follow-up coup.
Kim Geun-sik, head of the PPP’s Songpa district, was blunt in his response: "Are we determined to self-destruct? The only way to stop Jang Dong-hyuk’s rampage down the path of self-destruction is for floor leader Song Eon-seok, Yang Hyang-ja, and other top officials to resign." The sense of crisis was palpable, with party veterans warning that unless the PPP underwent long-term, far-reaching reforms, its very survival was at stake.
Expelled party figures joined the chorus of criticism. Han Dong-hoon, former party leader, declared on social media, "Jang Dong-hyuk has openly declared allegiance to the Yoon Seok-yeol line. This is the path to the death of conservatism." Han insisted, "Jang Dong-hyuk is merely a host for the Yoon Seok-yeol faction and is nothing on his own. To rebuild conservatism, we must cut ties with Jang Dong-hyuk—otherwise, conservatism will die." Kim Jong-hyuk, another expelled former top committee member, lamented, "Jang Dong-hyuk has effectively declared the PPP an extreme right-wing party, destroying conservatism."
Opposition parties seized on the moment. The Democratic Party, led by figures such as Han Byung-do and Chu Mi-ae, called for Jang Dong-hyuk’s immediate resignation and even the dissolution of the PPP. Han Byung-do wrote, "I hoped for a different message from Jang, but that hope was shattered within seconds of his press conference. I wonder if it’s right to recognize him as the leader of a legitimate party and a member of the National Assembly." Chu Mi-ae echoed these sentiments, stating, "He has once again declared the PPP a party complicit in rebellion. The party should be dissolved."
Other Democratic lawmakers took to social media, demanding not only Jang’s resignation but also legal action to dissolve the PPP. Kim Yong-min, a senior lawmaker, emphasized that all first-instance verdicts had recognized the 12.3 martial law as rebellion, and that the PPP’s continued support for Yoon only increased the likelihood of party dissolution. Park Joo-min, meanwhile, argued, "Refusing to apologize for rebellion and refusing to sever ties with the ringleader of the rebellion—these are acts of complicity."
Even within the PPP’s own ranks, prominent voices called for a return to principle, responsibility, and broader appeal. Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul and a significant figure in conservative politics, issued a public statement expressing "deep concern" over Jang Dong-hyuk’s approach. According to Yonhap News, Oh wrote, "Persistently repeating statements that diverge from the sentiment of the majority will not win the love and support of the people." He stressed, "The PPP is not a party built on the political line of any one individual, but a public party that has led both industrialization and democratization in Korea and stands at the center of conservatism, upholding the values of freedom and responsibility."
Oh Se-hoon also criticized Jang for using academic minority opinions as if they were the party’s official stance, adding, "The presumption of innocence cannot be a political shield. Regardless of the legal outcome, politicians must take responsibility before the public. That is the essence of conservative politics." He called for conservatives to focus on responsibility rather than factional loyalty, warning, "If conservatism loses its way, the central axis of Korea collapses. Conservatism must be the safety net for the nation, not the shield of any one person."
Amid the uproar, Jang Dong-hyuk remained defiant. He insisted that calls for apology and severance were themselves divisive, and accused those pushing for such measures of seeking to split the party for their own gain. His supporters, mostly from the party’s hardline faction, backed him in last-minute meetings before the press conference, ensuring that his combative stance would go public despite warnings from other party leaders that this could be seen as defiance of the judiciary and further alienate public opinion.
The political fallout is likely to be long-lasting. With local elections on the horizon, the PPP faces a crisis of identity and legitimacy. Critics warn that unless the party can address the concerns of the broader public and move beyond the shadow of Yoon Seok-yeol, its future may be in jeopardy. As Oh Se-hoon put it, "What’s needed now is not a contest of loyalty to factions, but a contest of responsibility—who can think bigger for Korea?"
For now, South Korea’s conservatives are at a crossroads, caught between loyalty to a controversial former president and the urgent need for renewal. The coming months will reveal whether the PPP can bridge this divide, or if it will remain mired in internal strife and public distrust.