Politics · South Korea · 5 hrs ago
Oh Se-hoon and Jang Dong-hyeok clash over party leadership
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the People Power Party could struggle in the next general election if it remains under party leader Jang Dong-hyeok.
Oh said the party would face particular difficulty in the capital region and suggested an interim committee might offer more flexibility.
Jang rejected the suggestion and questioned Oh's motives, saying it did not reflect what opinion polls showed.
He also told Oh, sarcastically, to become party leader himself while Jang took the mayor's job.
The dispute is about whether the party should change its leadership or direction before the election.
Oh has previously criticized Jang's approach and called for him to step down, though the two had recently appeared closer in their opposition to the government.
Jang said the party should focus on its opposition work, and the disagreement leaves their differences over party leadership in public view.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said a general election under People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok would likely be difficult in the capital region.
Oh said a temporary emergency leadership committee could offer more flexibility and urged the party to appeal to voters.
Jang accused Oh of having a political motive for calling for a change in party leadership.
Jang said the party should focus on opposing government policies and on people’s livelihoods.
The public dispute concerns the party’s direction and leadership ahead of the next general election.
- Who
- People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
- What
- They publicly disagreed over the party’s direction and whether it should move to an emergency leadership committee.
- When
- November 11, 2026.
- Where
- Seoul; Oh’s comments appeared in an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, and Jang responded at a forum.
- Why
- Oh said the party would struggle in the capital region under Jang’s leadership; Jang said the call for a leadership change appeared politically motivated.
Oh Se-hoon
Jang Dong-hyeok
Party leadership
Oh Se-hoon
Oh said an election under Jang’s leadership would likely be difficult in the capital region and said an emergency committee could be more flexible.
Jang Dong-hyeok
Jang said calls for an emergency committee ran contrary to opinion-poll indicators and suggested they reflected a wish for new leadership.
Party priorities
Oh Se-hoon
Oh said the party should be in a position to offer voters new hope and appeal to sentiment in the capital region.
Jang Dong-hyeok
Jang said the party should focus on opposing government policies and addressing people’s livelihoods.
Oh had previously criticized Jang’s party direction and disciplinary politics and called for him to step down.
Oh said an election under Jang’s leadership would likely be difficult in the capital region and discussed an emergency committee.
Jang responded at a Seoul forum, questioning Oh’s motives and saying the party should focus on its opposition efforts and people’s livelihoods.
- Party leader
- Jang Dong-hyeok
- Seoul mayor
- Oh Se-hoon
- Disputed proposal
- Emergency leadership committee
- Election concern
- Oh said the capital-region election under Jang’s leadership would likely be very difficult
- Jang’s priority
- Opposition efforts and people’s livelihoods
3 sources
What people are saying
Clearly, if we fight the general election under the Jang Dong-hyeok system, the capital-region election will probably be very difficult.
There can be no other interpretation than that there is another political motive.
Then I should be mayor of Seoul and Mayor Oh should come as party leader, and we can switch places.