Right-wingers on the streets are still hoping for 'Yoon Again', the return of President Yoon Suk-yeol. [Photo=Yonhap News]

Jin Cummings, a political columnist active in the United States, recently offered sharp criticism to the People Power Party (PPP) regarding the extreme confusion felt by conservative voters in South Korea.

On the 12th, Jin Cummings stated that the sense of betrayal felt by the current South Korean conservative camp towards the PPP is not merely political dissatisfaction, but stems from the party's fundamental dilemma: whether to defend 'conservative ideological values' to the end, or to choose 'party survival in real politics'.

He diagnosed that the PPP chose the latter, saying, "Representative Jang Dong-hyuk prioritized maintaining the party and political survival over holding onto the values and principles emphasized by traditional conservatism."

He then pointed out, "While the rightness or wrongness of that choice is a matter of individual judgment, the problem is not the choice itself, but the fact that the leadership took a path completely opposite to the direction demanded by the core supporters."

Jin Cummings expressed regret, wondering what would have happened if the PPP had instead said, "The only way to stop Lee Jae-myung's solo run and restore political order is to first prove President Yoon Suk-yeol's innocence. A thorough investigation into election fraud allegations and all related crimes, followed by holding those responsible accountable, must follow."

He strongly criticized, "The People Power Party, prioritizing only the goal of party victory, has turned a blind eye to and trampled upon the pursuit of truth. This behavior is no different from existing corrupt political groups."

The following is the full text of Jin Cummings' Facebook post on the 12th.

The extreme confusion and sense of betrayal felt by conservative voters in South Korea is not mere political dissatisfaction. It stems from a fundamental dilemma.

Should we defend 'conservative ideological values' to the end, or choose 'party survival in real politics'? The People Power Party chose the latter.

Representative Jang Dong-hyuk also prioritized maintaining the party and political survival over holding onto the values and principles emphasized by traditional conservatism.

While the rightness or wrongness of that choice is left to individual judgment, one thing is clear.

The People Power Party chose party survival over traditional conservative values.

The problem is not the choice itself, but the fact that the leadership took a path completely opposite to the direction demanded by the core supporters.

For those who have been fighting for over a year on the streets, shouting "Yoon Again" and "Investigate Election Fraud" through rain or shine, this is not simply a difference in tactics. It feels like an emotional betrayal, a sense that the values they believed in have been discarded.

Yet, some conservative influencers criticize the anger of street supporters, saying, "Don't divide us," "Jang Dong-hyuk couldn't help it," and "We must unite to stop Lee Jae-myung's solo run."

This does not make logical sense.

In politics, one can choose to retreat from values for the sake of party survival. However, at the very least, that choice must be honestly acknowledged. The demands of those who shouted "Yoon Again" were not solely about stopping Lee Jae-myung's solo run. It was a more fundamental issue.

It was about the necessity of truth prevailing in South Korea, of exposing the false narrative surrounding President Yoon Suk-yeol. And in that process, it was also about holding accountable the 'fake conservative' forces and the treacherous elements within the PPP that enabled the Lee Jae-myung administration's solo run.

However, the PPP has bundled all of this into a single framework of 'party survival' and 'stopping Lee Jae-myung's solo run' in real politics. This is where the clash with street conservatives occurs. Conservative voters say this:

"We must stop Lee Jae-myung's solo run. However, we cannot agree with your hypocritical approach of postponing the pursuit of truth and acknowledging Yoon Suk-yeol's wrongdoings. The only way to stop Lee Jae-myung's solo run and restore political order is to start by proving President Yoon Suk-yeol's innocence. A thorough investigation into election fraud allegations and all related crimes, followed by holding those responsible accountable, must follow."

What if the People Power Party had said this instead?

"It is difficult to resolve this issue in the current political reality. Therefore, we had no choice but to change our course. However, once the People Power Party wins and gains strength, we will definitely revisit this issue and resolve it to the end with the people."

If they had done so, it is highly likely that they would have mobilized the entire conservative camp.

However, the People Power Party has trampled on and ignored the voice of the people, declaring that voice to be wrong.

Demanding that we "support them first" and "not divide the party" is tantamount to arrogance, treating the people as a joke. Do they think the people are fools?

The core message of the "Yoon Again" citizens on the streets is not political victory or defeat. If the People Power Party focuses on "party victory," there is something that must be resolved before that for conservative citizens. That is the 'pursuit of truth'.

The People Power Party, driven solely by the goal of party victory, has turned a blind eye to and trampled upon the pursuit of truth. This behavior is no different from existing corrupt political groups.

The argument to eliminate the "Han Dong-hoon faction" is similar. Regardless of how the internal power dynamics of the party change, the PPP, in the eyes of conservative citizens, does not appear to be fundamentally different from Han Dong-hoon's politics.

Ultimately, the current conflict within the conservative camp is not a simple difference in direction.

It is a clash between two standards: whether to prioritize political reality, or to demand the pursuit of truth first and uphold the values of traditional conservatism.

For a party that has betrayed conservatism to package it as a "choice to uphold conservative values" or "a strategy for a bigger fight" is merely a way of mocking its supporters.

The act of revealing the truth in defiance of pro-North Korean and pro-China forces' false propaganda is a vital value for conservatives. To abandon this and speak of party victory is inherently contradictory.

It is understandable that a political party aims to maintain its political life. However, the people do not exist to protect the lives of politicians. The people are looking for one thing: "Who will stand to the end for the truth?"

Looking at past elections, conservative parties have won not when they compromised values to win over moderates, but when the turnout of core supporters exceeded 80%. The moment supporters lose their "reason to go to the polls," turnout plummets.

The marketing slogan of "to stop Lee Jae-myung" alone is insufficient to motivate supporters who feel betrayed. Moderates are also drawn to strong leadership with conviction in its values, not opportunistic behavior without principles.

A party that betrays its leaders by abandoning its values appears as an 'untrustworthy group' even to moderates. Ultimately, it is an act of self-destruction, losing both rabbits.

Whenever conservative parties in the past tried to overcome crises through moderate compromise, the opposing side would exploit those cracks and shake the roots of conservatism.

Failing to defend Yoon Suk-yeol now and covering up allegations of election fraud is like building a castle in the air that will crumble again under the opposing side's attacks of false narratives, no matter what victory is achieved in the future.

Burying the truth for political survival is like drilling a hole in the bottom of a ship to avoid the immediate waves. The water that enters through that hole will eventually sink the entire party.

If the People Power Party intends to live by dividing power internally within the political sphere, excluding the public, that can also be a choice.

However, to commit such a betrayal and then demand continued support is beyond mere shamelessness.

The statements "We must unite for the struggling Jang Dong-hyuk" and "Everyone has their strategies and plans" are ultimately just rationalizations. And they are simply evidence that he has not demonstrated sufficient leadership ability.

The political world is inherently a place where internal opposition and attacks exist.

However, a true leader emerges when they do not waver in the face of such internal opposition and attacks. When they fight with everything they have for truth and justice until the end, it is the moved people who rise up and make them their leader.

What kind of leader easily becomes a leader without facing even that level of opposition and harsh attacks? Moreover, I cannot agree that we must accept as strategy the behavior of turning our backs on our initial beliefs and promises to the people.

Even if there were internal attacks, if one's beliefs were firm, they should have fought to the end, even at the risk of their position.

The people do not want a leader who is easily swayed or needs constant help; they want a powerful leader who does not yield to corruption and fights to the end.

Is Jang Dong-hyuk struggling, or are the people who have fought on the streets to reveal the truth and establish justice struggling?

Abandoning Yoon Suk-yeol is abandoning the last value that conservatism should uphold.

How can a force that abandons the leader who made them and now betrays even their supporting citizens claim to punish internal traitors? It is a hypocritical assertion.

Do those who have thrown away the truth have the right to speak of justice?

Now, one question lies before Korean conservatism. What does conservatism exist to protect? Is it power? Is it the party? Or is it conservative values? Until this question is answered, the confusion will not end.

And it is not politicians, but the people, who must provide that answer.

A rotten house should not be repaired but torn down and rebuilt. Korean conservatism is at a point where it needs to break down and build a new framework, like Trump and MAGA, rather than merely surviving through superficial compromises.

Perhaps it is more necessary to allow the People Power Party, which has shown the height of betrayal, to collapse thoroughly and be judged, creating the soil for a new force with genuine conservative values to emerge, rather than giving it a vote to extend its life.

The idea that one must unconditionally support a party calling itself conservative has been the biggest mistake repeatedly made by the conservative camp.

As a result, President Yoon Suk-yeol, who tried to uphold conservative values, was purged, and a monster like Lee Jae-myung was born.

What can be changed now? It will merely be a repetition of the past.

In a democracy, voters vote not for party names, but for values and directions.

Currently, the People Power Party does not adequately represent conservative values such as the rule of law, liberal democracy, fighting spirit, and solidarity.

Conservative voters now face two paths.

Will they focus on stopping Lee Jae-myung's solo run through "critical support," even if they dislike it? Or will they boycott their support entirely and demand the emergence of a new conservative force?

However, one thing is clear. When power is excessively concentrated in one direction, that power causes cracks more rapidly.

If the Lee Jae-myung faction completely seizes state power, all responsibility for any problems will fall solely on them. Excuses will no longer be tolerated.

South Korea, in particular, is situated in the midst of the international order. The Trump variable cannot be ignored either.

Leaning towards pro-China and pro-North Korea will lead to massive conflicts in all areas – diplomacy, economy, and security. The incumbent government will ultimately bear the cost.

Voters' ballots are not merely tools to elect candidates. They are the most powerful messages recording anger and demands regarding politics. If the outcome is predetermined to be a loss, there is no need to second-guess.

It is also the right of voters to use this time for creative destruction, directly judging and completely weeding out corrupt politicians.

Perhaps the conservative voters in South Korea today are at a crossroads, wondering whether to all stand up now or to give up at this point.

What conservative strata seeking to uphold conservative values prioritize is not electoral victory. What is important to them is identity. And ideological clarity.

The people do not want a party that is merely a shell of conservatism.

If a party calls itself conservative but fails to uphold conservative values, that party has already lost its reason for existence. In other words, it has lost its justification for support.

The People Power Party's act of immediately drawing a line, severing ties, and yielding instead of fighting against injustice can only appear to supporters as an opportunistic party that abandones its comrades, not one that protects them.

"There is no revolution without bloodshed."

The conservative camp may need to give up on the idea of winning gracefully. Sometimes, the pain of excising rotten parts within must be endured. Avoiding that pain ultimately leads to greater collapse.

A great task now lies before conservative politics in South Korea.

"Will we uphold conservative values?"

"Will we protect the survival of the People Power Party?"

Now, the people must provide the answer.