The ruling on February 19 against former President Yoon Suk-yeol, which sentenced him to life imprisonment for his role in the December 3 military coup, has significant implications for South Korean politics. This ruling confirms that the military coup was an act of sedition aimed at undermining the constitution. Although the debate on the factual determinations and sentencing will continue in the appeals, the conviction for sedition is likely to remain intact. The political saber-rattling in response to the ruling highlights the tensions within the ruling People Power Party and its leadership, particularly concerning how closely to align with Yoon amidst growing expectations of a correction in their political stance.

After the ruling was announced, much attention turned to Representative Jang Dong-hyuk and the possibility of him distancing himself from former President Yoon. Analysts anticipated that he would make a clear break from Yoon's influence, especially in light of editorials from major South Korean newspapers calling for this separation. For instance, the Dong-A Ilbo urged Jang to explicitly clarify his stance against Yoon's involvement, while the Chosun Ilbo and Hankyoreh expressed skepticism about the People's Power Party's unwillingness to mention disassociation.

Instead of distancing himself, Jang delivered a bold statement that reaffirmed loyalty to the party's prior position that the military regime was not a coup and maintained that the investigation into sedition charges against Yoon was unlawful. His remarks suggest a reluctance to accept the ruling unconditionally. By emphasizing the logical inconsistencies he perceives in the court's ruling, Jang seems to challenge the legal validity of the sedition charge, invoking the principle of the presumption of innocence and suggesting that a significant appeal could reshape the narrative, positioning himself and his party strategically in light of Yoon's ongoing influence in the political landscape of South Korea.