Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of South Korea's ruling People Power Party, defended former President Yoon Suk-yeol amidst severe allegations of rebellion against him. In a press conference, he stated that the assumption of innocence should apply, emphasizing that the recent life sentence verdict was only from the first trial. He expressed his party's long-standing position that a declaration of martial law does not equate to insurrection, contradicting the unified rulings from three different judiciary panels that classified the emergency martial law on December 3rd as insurrection. Despite the ongoing trials against former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo and former Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, along with the life sentence given to Yoon Suk-yeol, Jang continues to insist that these actions do not qualify as rebellion.

Jang’s remarks have sparked significant controversy, especially given that the judiciary’s repeated affirmation of the insurrection charges against Yoon was met with denial from him. The People Power Party seems to have adopted a defensive stance, arguing that the ongoing investigations by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials into rebellion charges are unlawful, and insisting that the first trial's ruling did not provide sufficient evidence to overturn their claims. Consequently, they are criticizing the judiciary for not giving a favorable ruling in line with their expectations. Jang's comments reflect a stubborn unwillingness to acknowledge the judicial consequences laid out against Yoon, firmly stating that this denial aligns with the 'Yoon Again' faction's resistance against the judgments.

Further complicating matters, the People Power Party is accused not just of politically supporting a president found guilty of instigating rebellion, but also of obstructing the lifting of emergency martial law. Even as judicial verdicts clearly debunk their efforts to shield Yoon from prosecution, Jang's party continues to resist a breakup with Yoon and refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing associated with the rebellion. This admission by the People Power Party serves to illustrate their intertwining with Yoon, solidifying their identity as the core of the insurrection. In a democratic rule-of-law nation, a party unified with a convicted insurrectionist has no rightful place, highlighting the urgent need for South Korea to resolve its turbulence and strive for a new beginning, as yearning imprints most citizens’ hopes for the nation's future.