Jang Dong-hyuk (right) pledged to work with President Yoon Suk-yeol last year, and was elected party leader with the support of party members who championed 'Yoon Again' in the party leadership election, defeating Kim Moon-soo. [Photo=Yonhap News]

The party has been drifting aimlessly since the People Power Party (PPP) declared its separation from President Yoon Suk-yeol in the names of all 107 lawmakers recently. 

Oh Se-hoon, who has always acted like a leftist despite being elected with the support of right-wing voters, is showing a desire for party power rather than focusing on elections, exhibiting all sorts of tantrums and erratic behavior. 

Meanwhile, shadowy figures of the old guard, who have been pulling the strings from behind the scenes since the Grand National Party era, colluded with the Democratic Party to impeach their own presidents twice, are lurking in the shadows. 

What's laughable is that the PPP, which has never been in sync with President Yoon and played a decisive role in his impeachment, is showing remarkable unity in completely severing ties with President Yoon for the sake of local elections. 

To use a relationship analogy, it's as if they've made a 'ridiculous decision' to break up without ever having properly dated. 

The problem here is that even party leader Jang Dong-hyuk participated in this. As everyone knows, Jang Dong-hyuk pledged to work with President Yoon Suk-yeol, and was elected party leader with the support of party members who championed 'Yoon Again' in the party leadership election, defeating Kim Moon-soo. 

However, after becoming party leader, he adopted an ambiguous stance, and then, on the eve of President Yoon's sentencing, he apologized for martial law and ultimately sided with the lawmakers who advocated for separation from President Yoon. 

Even with a hundred concessions, if 'Yoon Again' is a burden, shouldn't he have demonstrated the substance behind that slogan? The core of 'Yoon Again' is opposition to election fraud and a struggle against anti-South Korean forces who advocate pro-North Korea and pro-China stances. 

Yet, since becoming party leader, has Jang Dong-hyuk ever raised the issue of election fraud? It is also questionable how much he has fought against anti-South Korean forces. 

His 24-hour filibuster against the Democratic Party's malicious legislation and his 8-day hunger strike are commendable, but even that, viewed objectively, can be interpreted as a move to shift the narrative, conscious of the suspicion from his support base. 

As a result, there have been no real achievements, and it has all boiled down to Jang Dong-hyuk's individual plays. Of course, there are sympathetic views that acknowledge the difficulties he faces, such as lacking an internal party base as a first-term lawmaker and having to contend with forces that secretly collaborate with the Democratic Party from behind the scenes and corrupt media, all while trying to steer the party. 

However, it is no exaggeration to say that since becoming party leader, Jang Dong-hyuk has shown no signs of living up to the expectations of the party members who supported him, especially those in their 20s and 30s. Aside from the expulsion of Han Dong-hoon from the party, he has shown no significant leadership. Even that has not completely extinguished Han Dong-hoon's influence. 

His silence while announcing a resolution in the names of 107 lawmakers raises suspicions that the party is still under Han Dong-hoon's influence. 

Most importantly, regarding the relationship the PPP seeks to sever with President Yoon Suk-yeol, Party Leader Jang has never clearly stated his position. He passively allowed some lawmakers, including spokespersons, to make anti-Yoon remarks and ultimately sided with the 'separation' lawmakers. 

Even so, the 'head-scratching' interpretation that there is a hidden strategy and deep meaning behind this is a self-serving interpretation that underestimates the voters who support the opposition party. 

If he has genuine sincerity in working with Yoon Suk-yeol, he should push through the PPP lawmakers who oppose this, or if that is too difficult, he should make the bold decision to decisively break ties with the PPP and stand with the party members who supported him. Otherwise, it can only be seen as either extremely incompetent or chillingly insidious behavior. 

The fact that many citizens have awakened through Donald Trump's commitment to eradicate election fraud and the subsequent grand debate on election fraud, which was broadcast live, presents a favorable external political environment for the opposition party. 

Nevertheless, seeing Jang Dong-hyuk, who is to all intents and purposes a nominal party leader, aiming to win elections, I foresee a dark and sinister future for the PPP, which is heading in the same direction as the Democratic Party. 

There are good reasons why the PPP is called the 'Democratic Party's second branch.'

◆ Nam Kwang-gyu, Director 

Director, Maebong Unification Research Institute

Professor, Graduate School of Global Peace and Unification Studies, Kookmin University

Director, Inter-Korean General Election Center