Jang Dong-heok's Leadership Under Siege as South Korea's Opposition Party Faces Internal Fracture

South Korea’s main opposition party is experiencing a significant internal crisis, with mounting calls for Jang Dong-heok to resign as party chief. On February 21, 2026, 25 current and former local branch leaders issued a joint statement demanding immediate leadership change, signaling deeper fractures within the party’s ranks. The coordinated action represents more than routine political disagreement—it reflects fundamental strategic disagreements over the party’s direction and identity.

The Core Conflict: Personal Legacy vs. Party Strategy

At the heart of the crisis lies Jang Dong-heok’s refusal to distance himself from former President Yoon Seok-youl, who remains a controversial figure facing legal challenges. The opposition leaders argue that Jang’s continued alignment with Yoon is dragging the party away from public opinion and undermining its electoral prospects. The joint statement explicitly called for Jang to “immediately stop dragging the party into a quagmire that diverges from public opinion” and voluntarily relinquish his position.

This demand reflects a strategic calculation: in an increasingly polarized political environment, maintaining close ties to a legally embattled former president may become a liability rather than an asset. The party’s local branch leaders are signaling that electoral success in upcoming local elections requires repositioning away from the Yoon controversy.

Escalating Tensions Over Judicial Matters

The internal revolt intensified following Jang Dong-heok’s response to the first trial verdict in Yoon’s case. Critics within the party viewed his stance as tone-deaf to broader public sentiment and damaging to the party’s reformist image. This judicial proceeding has become a litmus test for party leadership, with dissidents using it to measure whether current direction serves the party’s long-term interests or merely protects personal political relationships.

What Lies Ahead

The leadership showdown between Jang Dong-heok and his party opponents will likely determine whether the opposition can successfully rebrand itself before crucial elections. The pressure from 25 branch leaders suggests this is not an isolated complaint but a genuine movement for institutional change, raising questions about whether Jang can consolidate support or whether this marks the beginning of the end for his tenure as party chief.