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PPP Leader Jang Apologizes for Yoon’s Martial Law Bid and Launches 'Change to Win' Reforms

The move aims to reset the party before June local elections after months of sliding support.

Overview

  • Jang Dong-hyeok acknowledged party responsibility for former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3, 2024 martial law declaration and issued a public apology.
  • He said 18 People Power Party lawmakers, including himself, attended the National Assembly vote to lift the decree and urged its swift reversal.
  • The 'Change to Win' plan proposes mandatory youth nominations, recruitment of outside policy experts, new standing committees on labor, social welfare and generational issues, tighter nomination oversight, and a possible name change.
  • Jang did not clearly sever ties with Yoon, who awaits trial on insurrection charges, prompting skepticism from critics and some party figures about the apology’s sincerity.
  • He signaled openness to cooperation with other opposition forces for the June 3 local elections, with recent polling showing the ruling Democratic Party at about 45.7% to the PPP’s 35.5%.