Jang Donghyuk: "Calls for Resignation Are Like Vending Machines... Responding to Ballot Paper Crisis Comes First"

"Calls for the Party Leader's Resignation Have Become a Monthly Ritual... Repeated Power Struggles"

"Excluding the Seoul Mayoral By-Election? Undermines the Case for Fairness"

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, stated on June 16 that, regarding calls for his resignation within the party following the June 3 local elections, "Now is not the time to be mired in internal conflicts, but to focus on responding to the ballot shortage incident."

Appearing on Munhwa Ilbo’s YouTube program "Heo Min's News Show" that day, Jang said, "I hope people will consider what the public truly wants right now," adding, "If the leadership steps down and the party transitions to an emergency committee system, the party will be consumed by internal issues for quite some time and will not be able to get anything done."

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference on current issues including the shortage of ballots at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

"Alternative and Future," a group of reform-minded lawmakers within the People Power Party, is demanding Jang’s resignation, holding him responsible for the outcome of the June 3 local elections. The People Power Party plans to hold a general assembly of lawmakers on the 18th to discuss the issue.

In response, Jang criticized, "The calls for the party leader’s resignation are almost routine, like a vending machine," and added, "Since becoming party leader, I have faced such repeated, almost monthly, demands as if they were a regular event."

He further pointed out, "When the party faces difficulties, a scapegoat is set up to take the blame, and when vested interests are at stake, the leadership is ousted. This repeated pattern creates the impression among the public that the party is only interested in power struggles over nominations and party leadership."

Jang also emphasized, "The people are asking us to fight together with them over the ballot shortage incident, and we must not get caught up in competition for party leadership or internal strife. Lawmakers should focus on how to reform the party and what actions to take, rather than simply demanding the resignation of the leadership."

Regarding the recent rise in the People Power Party’s approval ratings, Jang explained, "One factor that led to a sharp increase in support among people in their 20s and 30s was that we fought to restore young people's voting rights. This result reflects the public’s anger over the ballot shortage incident."

There has been criticism from some in the party that the leadership's decision to file election appeals in six regions—Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Ulsan, Gyeonggi, Gwangju, and Jeonnam—and to include the Seoul mayoral election, is effectively an attempt to undermine Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon.

Jang countered, "You cannot apply the principles and the issue of suffrage differently depending on whether you win or lose," adding, "Excluding the Seoul mayoral election just because we won would undermine our own argument for electoral fairness." He continued, "We are proceeding with the appeals process with the goal of nationwide reelections. The ballot shortage incident should be seen not as a simple mistake, but as a problem with the entire election management system."

Regarding the issue of former leader Han Donghoon's reinstatement to the party, Jang drew a line, stating, "Now is not the time to discuss reinstatement," and "The legal conclusions regarding the party disciplinary controversy have not yet been finalized."

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