Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, states his position regarding the first-instance sentencing of former President Yoon Suk-yeol at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on February 20th. 2026.2.20 [Photo=Yonhap News]

Amidst discussions surrounding the political style of People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, there are emerging evaluations referring to it as "empathetic politics."

This comes as Kim Sung-hoe, former senior secretary for religious and multicultural affairs to the President, publicly shared a conversation with Leader Jang on his Facebook page on the evening of February 20th.

According to Kim's post, Leader Jang, during a meeting just before the Lunar New Year holiday, stated his vision for the party's future direction: "We must practice politics that shares the pain of those who are struggling."

Kim also revealed that Jang added, "I will not engage in politics where I only seek my own survival by turning away from those in difficulty."

The post also touched upon the political isolation demands surrounding former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Kim reported that Leader Jang strongly rebuffed these demands, emphasizing his own political philosophy.

He further added that Jang stated, "Even if I have to step down from my leadership position, I will not change my political philosophy."

Evaluations of Leader Jang's political style are also being cautiously presented.

Within the conservative spectrum, which has historically followed the path of President Park Chung-hee's "modernization," President Lee Myung-bak's "pragmatism," and President Park Geun-hye's "principles," Jang Dong-hyuk is now seen as beginning to articulate another language: "empathy."

Whether his "empathetic politics" will establish itself as a new icon for conservatism or fade like a tempest in a teapot remains to be seen, but current assessments suggest it aligns well with the image he has projected thus far.