National Power's Representative Jang Dong-hyuk campaigning in the Boryeong-Seocheon constituency in Chungnam for the 22nd General Election held on April 10, 2024. [Photo=National Power] 

Nam Gwang-gyu, Director of the Maebong Unification Research Institute & Director of the North-South General Election CenterAhead of next year's local elections, the People Power Party is repeating its old mistakes. 

Just when Representative Jang Dong-hyuk, facing pushback from various quarters within the party, seemed to be standing firm, his remarks acknowledging the Constitutional Court's decision regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol have drawn predictable criticism. 

What the liberal conservative right expects from the opposition leader are, first, the assurance of fair elections, and second, a recognition of the crisis facing South Korea, which is virtually subservient to China, and the implementation of solutions. 

Jang Dong-hyuk Stays Silent on Election Fraud and China Issues

In that regard, Representative Jang Dong-hyuk's actions of remaining silent on election fraud and China's villainy seem no different from the People Power Party's past behavior. 

What was even more shocking was the scene of Kim Moon-soo, a former presidential candidate for the People Power Party, praising Han Dong-hoon and solidifying their camaraderie over a glass of soju. 

Given that President Yoon Suk-yeol appointed him as a minister, enabling him to even run for president, this is akin to striking the supporters with a hammer from behind. 

It is truly lamentable to recall how, during the last presidential election, the People Power Party was lackluster and failed to support Kim Moon-soo, while the "asphalt party" and patriotic liberal citizens devoted themselves to his cause. 

By appearing alongside Han Dong-hoon, Kim Moon-soo has also fallen into the category of the "axis of evil" that is destroying South Korea. 

South Korea's liberal democratic system has effectively collapsed, and the South Korea-US alliance is now merely a facade. The nation's survival is at stake, teetering on the brink of being consumed by China or North Korea. 

What can be expected from the opposition in such a situation? The People Power Party, since its predecessor Saenuri Party, has acted as if the sole purpose of politics is to secure a position through elections, rather than fighting against anti-state forces. 

They have a repetitive pattern of behavior. They ignore the extent to which South Korea is being encroached upon by anti-state forces and China, but when elections approach, they suddenly adopt a self-reflective stance and bow to anti-state forces, adhering to an election strategy of expanding their base through centrist absorption. 

Supporters of People Power Party candidate Jang Dong-hyuk during the 22nd General Election held on April 10, 2024. [Photo=National Power] 

As a result, even if they win presidential and general elections, they fail to normalize South Korea and, despite holding power, become prey to traitorous forces. 

The consequence was the presidential impeachment crisis, followed by a crushing defeat in the general election without the assurance of fair election outcomes. Even if the People Power Party wins next year's local elections, the operation of local governments will likely remain unchanged. 

Preventing Election Fraud is a More Urgent Task Than Campaigning

Currently, South Korea's local autonomy has been separated from the central government and the state, and has long been effectively functioning as an independent local federation, having been taken over by anti-state forces. 

Anti-South Korea forces, based on progressive civic organizations, have infiltrated local governments from the grassroots, forming a food chain of socialist local autonomy policies and progressive civic groups. 

This is not an issue that can be resolved simply by electing governors, mayors, or county heads from the People Power Party. 

Furthermore, individuals like former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who even ran for president, have, instead of conveying a message to overcome the national crisis, acted as heads of local governments, behaving like political hustlers or elderly neighborhood advisors, offering confusing advice for their own political gain. 

Most importantly, in the current electoral system where the fairness and transparency of voting are not guaranteed, what meaning does the voters' choice hold? 

In that sense, the primary task for Representative Jang Dong-hyuk and the People Power Party should be to eliminate the possibility of election fraud and sound the alarm about South Korea falling to China, rather than focusing solely on election victory. 

The problem is that, given the current trajectory, there is almost no possibility of change within the People Power Party. 

Director of the Maebong Unification Research Institute & Director of the North-South General Election Center