[Comprehensive] Jang Je-won Criticizes Party Leadership Again: "If We Run in Next Year's By-Election, We're a Party Doomed to Fail Anyway"

Jang Je-won: "We Cannot Passively Be Led by the Incompetent Moon Administration... Party Leadership Must Step Up"

Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, is questioning during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court, Board of Audit and Inspection, Constitutional Court, and Ministry of Government Legislation at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As Rep. Jang Je-won of the People Power Party (PPP) continues to confront Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the PPP, he harshly criticized the emergency committee on the 4th, saying, "They are wasting time without any strategy or tactics."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, Rep. Jang said, "We must set a cold and clear goal for the by-elections. In Busan, we must achieve an overwhelming victory through a one-on-one full-scale battle to restore our trampled pride. In Seoul, we must completely break down the party walls and form a coalition of anti-Moon Jae-in forces to win."

He argued, "Can we guarantee victory in the Seoul mayoral election with only the strength of the People Power Party? If we cannot win under our name, we must win under the name of a civic candidate."

He added, "If there is someone who holds the 2% that can win, they must approach it with the attitude that they can sacrifice our 49%."

Rep. Jang emphasized, "Who caused the Seoul mayoral by-election? For what reason did it happen? With the real estate bomb and tax bomb, are the citizens of Seoul happy? If we lose, we are a doomed party anyway. Our 1.5 wins equal two losses for the Democratic Party. Our one loss means the Democratic Party’s continuation of power."

He also said, "After April 7 next year, the political landscape of South Korea will change significantly depending on the by-election results. We cannot just be passively dragged along by the duplicitous and deceptive incompetent Moon Jae-in administration. We must bet everything on the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections with the attitude of an outside struggle."

Finally, he concluded, "Winning is good. No more defeats are allowed," urging the party leadership to make a strong effort.

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is listening to a participant's remarks at the Expanded Party Officials Meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 4th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is not the first time Rep. Jang has criticized the party leadership. In particular, he has openly expressed dissatisfaction with Chairman Kim.

On the 13th of last month, he sharply criticized Kim, saying he was wielding his characteristic 'minus hand' and that the party’s management style must be completely changed.

Through his Facebook, Rep. Jang pointed out, "The party’s approval rating is in a downward trend, approaching the 27.5% it had when Kim Jong-in took office as emergency committee chairman. Despite the Democratic Party’s continuous missteps, the decline in approval ratings is our responsibility."

He continued, "It seems there was internal conflict yesterday over the formation of the by-election preparation committee," and "The problem of the emergency committee, which unilaterally decides all political schedules and personnel, has once again been exposed externally."

He raised his voice, saying, "Excessively autocratic party management is driving away the hearts of members inside and outside the National Assembly. Many party members are expressing frustration and turning away due to stagnant approval ratings, a weak opposition that cannot fight, and an emergency committee that only causes irritation."

Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, is questioning at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 8th of last month during the audit of the Constitutional Court and others.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Also, on the 9th of last month, Rep. Jang criticized Chairman Kim and proposed, "Let’s create a weekly talk concert called 'Seize the Presidency' hosted by Kim."

He said, "I was very disappointed after seeing Kim’s Q&A with reporters following a lecture by former leader Kim Moo-sung yesterday," and "There was still no plan on how to create a stage for presidential candidates."

Rep. Jang criticized, "(Kim) said, 'People outside the party should not even mention it.' As the heir of the opposition, this is something that should never be said," adding, "This kind of party-closing politics will become an obstacle to the opposition’s regime change."

He evaluated, "Former leader Kim’s remark that 'We should gather all opposition figures who want to challenge the presidency and ask the people to choose a candidate' is much more persuasive."

Rep. Jang further proposed, "I suggest that the People Power Party, as the big house of the opposition, directly host an event inviting all opposition presidential candidates," adding, "It would be a 'Seize the Presidency' stage hosted by Kim Jong-in. It would probably receive intense media attention."

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