▲ Rep. Chang Je-won of the ruling People Power Party swears an oath as a witness at a standing committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Seoul, in this file photo taken Oct. 16, 2023. (Yonhap)

PPP lawmaker-general elections

Rep. Chang Je-won not to run in general elections

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- Rep. Chang Je-won, one of the closest confidants of President Yoon Suk Yeol, has decided not to run in April's general elections, sources said, a surprise decision that could force other heavyweights of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to follow suit.

Chang, a three-term lawmaker of the PPP, plans to hold a press conference at the National Assembly at 10 a.m. to officially announce the decision and offer explanations for why he decided to do so, the sources said.

Chang had strongly hinted at that possibility a day earlier, saying he "would like to take a pause" in a Facebook post uploaded after he visited the grave of his late father.

Chang and other senior members of the ruling party have been under pressure to give up seeking another term or running in more hard-to-win districts, as part of reform measures that the PPP's innovation committee has proposed.

Chang's decision could affect other PPP heavyweights, such as party leader Kim Gi-hyeon.

The PPP innovation committee proposed the reform measures as part of efforts to regain voter confidence after the party suffered a crushing defeat in October's local by-election.

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