As local elections in South Korea draw near, Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party (PPP), is facing pressure from both within and outside the party to break away from the 'Yoon Again' faction, which supports former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Despite these demands, Jang's recent actions suggest he is focusing on consolidating his core supporters rather than expanding the party's outreach to moderate voters. The strategy seems to reflect an understanding of the low voter turnout typically associated with local elections, leading to interpretations that Jang’s choices may prioritize maintaining his party leadership regardless of the upcoming electoral outcomes.

At a press conference held the day following the first ruling against former President Yoon, Jang expressed his dissatisfaction with the court's decision, asserting that it failed to adequately demonstrate the legal violations in the case. His remarks emphasized a presumption of innocence and criticized the perceived flaws in the judgment. Jang’s public stance seems aimed at rallying support from party members who may feel threatened by any potential schism in the party over the former President's legal challenges.

Internally, the party has witnessed mounting tensions as some members, particularly from the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction, have called for Jang's resignation for not distancing the party from the Yoon Again movement. Prior to Jang's press conference, the party leadership convened a private meeting to discuss his position, resulting in some contentious debates over how to frame their response to the ruling without appearing to contest the judiciary’s authority. However, Jang opted to keep most of his criticisms of the ruling, highlighting a division among party members that may complicate their unified front as the elections approach.