People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk on Wednesday dismissed the so-called "Jang-Han-Seok" alliance — referring to himself, former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, and Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok — saying he cannot accept using the term "alliance" for matters involving fellow party members.
"I cannot agree with attaching the word 'alliance' to issues concerning party members and PPP matters," Jang said at a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. His remarks suggested that an alliance with Han, who belongs to the same party, is a politically untenable concept from the start.
"I won't particularly take issue with the expression of alliance with the Reform Party," Jang said, adding, "Various alliances are possible for winning local elections, but it's not limited to the Reform Party. I haven't even discussed how the PPP will change and innovate."
"In politics, alliances must have justification that the public can accept and must move people to be effective in elections," he emphasized. "Continuously talking about alliances when we should be discussing internal innovation, change, and self-strengthening is not appropriate at this time."
Jang also took aim at Han, saying, "I cannot agree with superficial expansion of our base. It must be an expansion premised on a unified front." He added, "If one plus one doesn't become two or merely stays at two, that's not expanding our base."
Regarding the party's approval rating stuck in the 20-percent range, Jang said, "If the PPP undergoes personnel renewal and transforms into a policy-oriented party more capable than the ruling party, public support will change." He promised to announce a reform plan "in the near future."
When asked whether the reform plan would include a break with former President Yoon Suk-yeol and a position on the martial law declaration, Jang replied, "It's not appropriate to discuss the reform plan now. The issues you mentioned relate to our conduct over time and cannot be addressed at a single point. I will present the reform plan all at once in early January."
