From left, Kim Do-eup, Seong Il-jong, Kwon Young-se, and Oh Se-hoon. [Reconstructed from Yonhap News photos]

The Republic of Korea is currently in a dire crisis, needing to stop the reckless actions of the Lee Jae-myung administration. Lee Jae-myung has declared his intention to essentially nullify his trial through a special prosecutor bill to withdraw charges, and controversies over the infringement of suffrage have erupted across the country during the June 3 local elections. 

In a situation where fundamental rights and liberal democracy are being shaken, the main opposition party, the People Power Party, must engage in struggles against the ruling party, investigate the National Election Commission's actions, and urge for by-elections.

However, what are you doing? It's back to undermining the party leader, back to infighting, back to factional politics.

Kwon Young-se stated that it was "essentially a lost election" and even brought up the idea of Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk's resignation. However, the people look at the numbers.

In 2018, under Hong Joon-pyo's leadership, the Liberty Korea Party secured 53 seats for local government heads.

In 2022, under Lee Jae-myung's leadership, the Democratic Party secured 63 seats for local government heads.

In 2026, under Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk's leadership, the People Power Party secured 95 seats for local government heads.

As an opposition party, this is a respectable performance.

Conversely, the Democratic Party, judging they had lost the election, saw Lee Eon-ju resign from her supreme council position. Yet, within the People Power Party, there is an attempt to force out the party leader by framing it as a "crushing defeat."

Ultimately, the intention is clear. It is not due to the election results, but a political calculation to somehow oust Jang Dong-hyuk and seize control of the party and vested interests.

Oh Se-hoon, do not be mistaken. You were not elected because you were good or likable. No matter how much you claim "infringement of suffrage" or "standing with the citizens," the public can see through insincere political calculations.

Kwon Young-se, what did you do as the interim leader during the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol? You are not free from criticism for not fighting properly during your party's president's impeachment and essentially standing by. Now, to see you wield a knife by clamoring about accountability, party members are enraged.

We also ask Seong Il-jong and Kim Do-eup: Are you so blinded by the race for floor leader that you are calculating power before the party's crisis? Those who hid and protected themselves when the party was in crisis are now trying to push out those who fought fiercely.

However, party members and the public are watching. Who fought. Who ran away. Who led the infighting.

The sight of those who have never worked as hard for the party as Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk, and who haven't proven such capabilities, sitting behind the scenes and pointing fingers, goes beyond a farce and evokes disgust.

You have the freedom to criticize Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk. However, acknowledge your own responsibilities to the same extent as your criticism. Blaming others is easy. Self-reflection is difficult. The public cannot help but scoff at those who destroyed conservatism now seeking to expel those who are trying to protect it.

The public will remember. Those who were nowhere to be seen during the fight, but were the fastest to stir up trouble.

The ones who truly deserve to be judged are not Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk. They are the political "stagnant waters" that have sickened the party with defeatism, self-preservation, and opportunism for years.

If the party is thrown into chaos by continuing to focus on undermining Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk and factional politics, party members and conservative supporters will no longer remain silent.

Those who are leading the infighting and efforts to oust the party leader at a time when we should be fighting the Lee Jae-myung administration have no right to engage in politics in the name of conservatism any longer.

They will surely pay the price for their complacent mindset of "just getting nominated," their vested interest politics that belittles party members, and their political maneuvering of hiding when they should be fighting and only eyeing positions.

I gravely warn that if you continue to divide and destabilize the party, your political careers will be ended by the hands of party members and the public. The Freedom Korea Citizens' Association will gladly and willingly lead the charge.

June 9, 2026

Oh Sang-jong, Freedom Korea Citizens' Association