Ballot Paper Shortage Escalates... Will Jang Overcome Calls for Resignation?

Jang Donghyuk Takes a Hardline Stance After Local Elections
"Re-election Should Come Before Parliamentary Investigation or Special Prosecutor"

Criticism Within Party Over Attempt to Quell Resignation Calls
"New Floor Leader or Emergency Committee Can Also Pursue This Fight"

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, has called for a nationwide re-election in response to the ballot paper shortage incident that occurred during the 9th Nationwide Local Elections. Within the party, some point out that Jang is trying to use this incident as a springboard to overcome mounting calls for his resignation that have emerged after the local elections.

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th.

On the morning of June 8, the People Power Party decided to submit a party resolution demanding a parliamentary investigation into the ballot paper shortage and a reform of the National Election Commission. Within the party, there are calls not only for a parliamentary investigation but also for a special prosecutor led by the opposition and for a re-election. The party leadership held a Supreme Council meeting that morning to discuss the necessity of a full re-election. Chief Spokesperson Park Sunghoon told reporters after the meeting, "The party's position could be finalized as a party line at the general assembly scheduled for the day after tomorrow."

Jang has gone a step further by demanding the abolition of early voting and proposing an emergency meeting with the president. At the meeting, Jang stated, "No one can calculate how many people had their right to vote infringed upon due to the ballot paper shortage, nor can anyone determine which election results may have been overturned as a result." He added, "A special prosecutor should come before a parliamentary investigation, and a re-election should come before a special prosecutor." He further emphasized, "What the people are demanding is a re-election."

However, both inside and outside the party, there is an assessment that Jang’s hardline stance is an attempt to overcome the calls for his resignation that have intensified after the local elections. Cho Kyungtae, a six-term lawmaker and the most senior member of the party, commented on Jang’s actions during an appearance on MBC’s ‘Kim Jongbae’s Focus on Current Affairs’ program, calling them "a very cowardly act," and explained, "This is an issue that could be fought for by either the new floor leader or under an emergency leadership committee."

The upcoming floor leader election on June 10 is expected to influence Jang’s future course of action. The election, which was originally scheduled for the 9th, was postponed by one day due to factional conflict between pro-leadership and non-leadership groups within the party. This contest will be a three-way race among Kim Doeup (four-term), Sung Iljong (three-term), and Jeong Jeomsik (three-term). If Jeong, a former policy committee chair, is elected, there is a possibility that Jang’s position will be strengthened amid the pro-leadership faction’s dominance. If another candidate wins, the situation could change.

Assemblyman Kim indirectly mentioned the need for Jang’s resignation, saying, "I believe Jang will make a wise decision." Regarding the return of independent lawmaker Han Donghoon, which is opposed by the pro-leadership faction, Kim agreed on the need for unity, acknowledging the issue. Sung Iljong added, "(Jang) must precisely understand where the public sentiment shown through the election lies. It is the duty of those holding party positions to act accordingly," supporting the calls for resignation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.