One year in, PPP leader Jang unveils 'People Power Party 2.0' reform agenda

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok announced Wednesday, on the first anniversary of taking office, that he would pursue a "People Power Party 2.0 Four-Point Reform Project."

Jang held a press conference at the PPP headquarters in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, around 10 a.m., unveiling the roadmap and pledging to "create an environment where talent and systems work in tandem — one where we can fight and win."

The PPP 2.0 project centers on four pillars: party member sovereignty, people's livelihoods, communication and values. Jang led with party member sovereignty, saying he would "further expand member sovereignty by allowing members to directly participate in the selection of city and provincial chapter chairs and constituency committee heads." He added that a "Party Member Sovereignty 2.0 Committee" would be launched as soon as possible.

On livelihoods, Jang said the party would "advance as a people's livelihood party 2.0" and establish a "Livelihood Vitality PLA Committee." The PLA framework refers to a systematic policy management system covering field inspections (Patrol), legislation (Legislation) and follow-up care (Aftercare).

Jang also pledged to expand direct public outreach. He said the party would "open the door to a communication party 2.0," regularize expanded party official meetings and operate standing committees focused on field activities. On public engagement, he said the party would "diversify programs by generation, social class and region to increase opportunities for direct communication with the public."

On values, Jang said the party would redefine the principles of conservatism. "The People Power Party is South Korea's mainstream conservative party," he said, adding that "the PPP bears the responsibility of reestablishing conservative values and ushering in a new era of conservatism." He said the party would build a broad research network centered on the Yeouido Institute to identify new conservative policy agendas and develop concrete plans to put those values into practice.

Asked what conservative identity and the values of the times meant to him, Jang said there were principles that conservative parties had long upheld. "There are many themes — liberal democracy, the rule of law, a market economy, the Korea-US alliance and security," he said, but acknowledged that after taking office as party leader he had sought to revise the party charter and policies in line with conservative values, only to halt the effort ahead of the local elections.

He went on to say that "there have been various criticisms about whether the PPP has been properly establishing the values and direction of a conservative party, and I agree to some extent," adding that he would pursue the suspended work — including revisions to the party charter — "with greater speed and intensity."