The People Power Party's first general assembly since former President Yoon Suk-yeol's first trial verdict concluded without any resolution on severing ties with Yoon, despite expectations of a direct confrontation on the issue.
The ruling party held a roughly three-hour closed-door meeting at the National Assembly on Wednesday. Critics noted that most of the session was devoted to regional administrative integration discussions, leaving the party's core issue largely unaddressed while deepening internal divisions.
The meeting marked the first assembly since PPP Chairman Chang Dong-hyuk stated that "the principle of presumption of innocence should be applied" regarding Yoon's verdict.
Some lawmakers raised questions about leadership accountability. Rep. Cho Kyung-tae said, "I told them our party will suffer a crushing defeat if we don't sever ties with former President Yoon, the ringleader of insurrection. Are we supposed to be buried alongside him?"
He added, "If Chairman Chang lacks confidence in leading the party properly, he should step down himself."
Rep. Cho Eun-hee said, "Can we fight local elections with 'Yoon Again' or not? They haven't even asked the lawmakers. Let's have a secret ballot. Let's ask all party members. This is not something the party leader can decide alone. I wanted to say this but had no opportunity."
Others urged unity behind the current leadership. Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun said, "The system to lead the next election is Chairman Chang and the leadership. Restructuring or resignation is not the answer. I sense the concerns, but you cannot change generals during wartime."
Rep. Na Kyung-won said, "With the Democratic Party shaking the separation of powers, further internal conflict is undesirable." She added, "This controversy over 'severing ties' is essentially falling into the Democratic Party's frame."
Some lawmakers criticized the meeting's agenda management. Rep. Cho Kyung-tae said, "I asked them to keep the party name report brief, but they kept rotating speakers for an hour and 20 minutes. What are we supposed to discuss? I don't know who this assembly is for."
Rep. Han Ji-a said, "They're not discussing what the party considers important, but spent over an hour talking about party name revision that they already decided not to pursue. It seems intentional that they organized the agenda without first discussing where our party should head."
Rep. Bae Hyun-jin, who received a one-year party membership suspension from the ethics committee, said, "Didn't we decide yesterday not to change the party name? They've spent over an hour only on party name revision and Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration. Our approval rating plummeted again in polls today—is this the time for such leisurely talk?"
Chairman Chang reportedly countered criticism of the party's refusal to sever ties with Yoon by presenting an unpublished poll showing a majority favoring staying with the former president.