[Editorial] Rebuild the party

Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, a two-term lawmaker, was elected the new leader of the main opposition People Power Party on Tuesday.

He trailed Kim Moon-soo, his runoff rival, in public opinion polls, but party members' overwhelming support tipped the balance in Jang's favor. The new leader should think deeply about how to narrow the gap between his support among party members and that of the general public.

Amid intraparty conflict between supporters and opponents of the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, he raised the clearest anti-impeachment banner. Both Jang and Kim opposed Yoon's impeachment, but party members chose Jang, who was more vocal.

During the election process, he called on party members to close ranks in their fight against the ruling party and its allies. He said repeatedly that those lawmakers who do not fight should resign. In his acceptance speech, he vowed to give his all to bring down the Lee Jae Myung regime in unity with right-wing civic groups.

Of course, considering the indignities that the party has suffered as a minority party, his hard line is somewhat understandable. The leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea vows to seek the dissolution of the People Power Party, arguing it was complicit in Yoon’s alleged insurrection. A special counsel team probing allegations against former first lady Kim Keon Hee attempted to search the headquarters of the opposition party to review its membership list.

The ruling party leader says he will not even shake hands with lawmakers of the opposition party. The Democratic Party took over the executive branch by winning the presidential election. It seeks to change Korea's criminal justice system and the foundation of its economic system unilaterally, without a broader social discussion. It is almost impossible for the People Power Party to check the ruling party's legislative tyranny and the Lee government's law enforcement. In a situation like this, it is important for the opposition party to secure wide public support.

Yet, chaos and conflict over the impeachment issue are still ongoing in the party. Thus, the pressing task for Jang is to settle the chaos and rebuild the conservative party, which has fallen into lethargy.

It is a difficult task to reconstruct a party that faces the greatest challenge since its founding. But the conservative party must get back up again to rebalance Korea's excessively lopsided party politics. Both liberalism and conservatism are needed to ensure a balanced and stable society.

But it is not easy to rally conservatives through emotional responses alone. While the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party won over moderates with campaign promises focused on livelihood issues rather than liberal ideology, the People Power Party showed an equivocal stance, inviting criticism that it was confused about its identity.

One of the most decisive factors behind the People Power Party's presidential election loss is Yoon's martial law decree and impeachment. However, the party has not yet found a way to overcome the issue.

Referring to the pro-impeachment faction, Jang said that they are driving the party into division and that the party needs to make a decision about them. His words are taken to mean that the party will make things difficult for them. It is necessary to sideline a group when it instigates internal division and to respond strongly to the ruling party's dogmatic legislation. To do so, it should secure a large support base.

Now, many people are wearied by the prolonged economic downturn. They also feel anxiety about the worsening trade environment and closer relations between North Korea and Russia. The opposition party should try to win sympathy from the public at times like this by rallying them around a proper form of conservatism. Gaining broader public trust is the starting point for the reconstruction of the party.

Jang must do his best to settle internal discord and build an opposition party that will fulfill its function.