With just over 30 days until the June 3 local elections, the People Power Party's (PPP) two top leaders — Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk and Floor Leader Song Eon-seok — have embarked on separate campaign activities. As observers pointed to what appeared to be discord within the party leadership, Song brushed off the rift rumors, saying, "Even married couples travel separately during election season."
Song visited the Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market in Seoul's Dongjak district on Wednesday to hear the concerns of merchants. Senior party official Shin Dong-wook, a Supreme Council member, accompanied him. At the same time, Jang was at the National Assembly receiving local election policy proposals from the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise. While Song expanded his outreach with external events, including the market visit and attendance at the opening ceremony of the Osan mayoral candidate's campaign office, Jang stuck to schedules within the National Assembly grounds.
The separate activities of the party's top two figures raised concerns about a possible rupture within the leadership. Earlier, tensions between the two sides reportedly surfaced during the formation of the election steering committee. Song is said to have proposed appointing Reps. Kim Gi-hyeon, Na Kyung-won, and Ahn Cheol-soo as co-chairs of the steering committee, excluding Jang — a proposal Jang reportedly rejected. Song, however, dismissed the rift rumors as "a considerable misinterpretation," adding, "During election season, it is actually better for each to move on their own."
Campaign events excluding the party chairman were also held in multiple locations. While Jang was conducting the policy handover ceremony at the main National Assembly building, Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon held a "Victory Resolution and Nomination Ceremony" with the Seoul chapter of the party at the Members' Office Building just tens of meters away. Former Liberty Korea Party Floor Leader Kim Sung-tae also attended the event, but no seat was even arranged for Jang. Oh put on a red vest in a performance and said, "Although it is a situation where one might hesitate to wear red clothes, we are red."
Inside and outside the party, interpretations have emerged that some candidates are reluctant to appear alongside Jang. Opinions are also divided within the party over whether Jang should join the central election steering committee. Amid this, Jang plans to begin full-scale on-the-ground support by visiting the campaign office opening ceremonies of Busan mayoral candidate Park Heong-jun and Daegu mayoral candidate Choo Kyung-ho on May 2-3.
