Politics · South Korea · 9 hrs ago
Jang Dong-hyuk becomes South Korea’s longest-serving People Power Party leader
Jang Dong-hyuk has led South Korea’s People Power Party for 425 days, making him its longest-serving leader since the party was founded in 2020.
The party’s term for its leader is two years, but previous elected leaders left before completing their terms amid political disputes, election losses and leadership changes.
A senior party spokesperson said Jang had worked to build a party able to fight while conservatism was weakened.
But some within the party say his focus on strongly committed supporters has limited its appeal and kept it from gaining support.
The opposition Democratic Party mocked Jang as someone who simply clings to office and criticized his record, including after local election losses and calls for him to resign.
Jang has said he intends to serve his full term, while criticism and pressure to step down continue.
Jang Dong-hyeok became the longest-serving leader of the People Power Party since its launch in 2020, reaching 425 days in office on October 25.
He was elected party leader at a convention in August of the previous year.
A People Power Party spokesperson said the party had spent the year building an organisation able to fight while conservatism was weakened.
The party’s term for its leader is two years, but previous elected leaders left before completing their terms and interim leadership committees took over.
The Democratic Party criticised Jang, while some within his own party questioned his focus on strong supporters and his limited success in expanding the party’s appeal.
- Who
- Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party.
- What
- He became the party’s longest-serving leader since its 2020 launch, with 425 days in office.
- When
- October 25, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea; the reports describe his party leadership and comments made in Seoul.
- Why
- Previous elected People Power Party leaders left office before completing their terms, and interim committees filled leadership gaps.
People Power Party faction backing Jang
Democratic Party
Assessment of his tenure
People Power Party faction backing Jang
A People Power Party spokesperson said the party had built a force able to fight while conservatism was weakened.
Democratic Party
The Democratic Party said Jang stayed in office despite election defeat and repeated calls to resign.
Reason he holds the record
People Power Party faction backing Jang
Supporters described the year as building a fighting party.
Democratic Party
The Democratic Party called him a “master of hanging on” and said he had simply remained in office.
Jang was elected leader at a People Power Party convention.
Jang reached 425 days in office and became the party’s longest-serving leader since its 2020 launch.
- Time in office
- 425 days as of October 25, 2026
- Party founded
- 2020
- Leader’s term
- Two years
- Previous record
- Lee Jun-seok left office after 424 days
- Leader elected
- August 2025
3 sources
What people are saying
We have spent a year building a party that can fight while conservatism is weakened.
It is the result of holding on to his position despite a crushing defeat in the local elections and a flood of calls to resign.
The longer his record in office grows, the greater the public’s anger toward the main opposition party will become.