People Power Party Launches Full-Scale Offensive Against 'Nullification Special Prosecutor Act'... Ruling Party Considers Post-Election Delay

All-Out Opposition from the Broad Opposition Bloc Against 'Indictment Nullification Special Prosecutor'
Jang Donghyuk: "The Special Prosecutor Is the Tollgate to Dictatorship"
Ruling Party Moves to Slow Down Following Lee’s Remarks

The People Power Party is focusing its efforts on rallying conservative support ahead of the 9th Nationwide Local Elections scheduled for June 3, while intensifying its opposition to the 'Special Prosecutor Act on the Fabricated Prosecution by the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration.' With the Reform Party joining the campaign, the level of opposition is rising across the broader opposition bloc. As resistance to the special prosecutor act grows both inside and outside the Democratic Party, the party appears to be stepping back, stating it will discuss the issue after the local elections.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the on-site Supreme Council meeting held on the 7th in front of the fountain at the Cheongwadae Sarangchae in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

On the morning of May 7, the People Power Party held an on-site Supreme Council meeting in front of Cheongwadae in Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the meeting, leader Jang Donghyuk stated, "(Pushing for the special prosecutor act) is like appointing a special prosecutor to seize the indictment from the judge, only for Lee Jaemyung to tear it up himself," and criticized, "Nullifying the indictment is the final tollgate on the road to Lee Jaemyung’s dictatorship." He further appealed to the opposition voters, saying, "This local election is an election to put an end to the Lee Jaemyung dictatorship."

The People Power Party also held a rally and a general assembly of lawmakers the previous day to oppose the special prosecutor act, and issued a statement expressing its determination to fight in solidarity with other political parties and civic groups opposing the act. In addition, on this day, 51 of the party’s regional chairpersons who are not sitting lawmakers held a press conference, urging, "The Democratic Party must immediately halt the special prosecutor act aimed at clearing the President of wrongdoing." They emphasized, "We must stop this unconstitutional attempt by those in power to erase their own crimes."

People Power Party’s metropolitan candidates are also raising their voices against the special prosecutor act, using it as a means to rally their support base while shifting public opinion that had been leaning towards the ruling party. On May 5, Seoul Mayor candidate Oh Sehoon, Gyeonggi Province Governor candidate Yang Hyangja, and Incheon Mayor candidate Yoo Jeongbok issued a joint statement opposing the special prosecutor act. The following day, five candidates from the Yeongnam region—Ulsan Mayor candidate Kim Dukyum, South Gyeongsang Governor candidate Park Wansu, Busan Mayor candidate Park Hyungjoon, North Gyeongsang Governor candidate Lee Cheolwoo, and Daegu Mayor candidate Chu Kyungho—joined the opposition.

The Reform Party has also been active, with party leader Lee Junseok and Gyeonggi Province Governor candidate Cho Eungcheon initiating discussions against the special prosecutor act. On the previous day, Busan Mayor candidate Jeong Ihan and Changwon Mayor candidate Kang Myungsang proposed a joint meeting of opposition candidates in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region, further intensifying the movement. On this day, candidate Cho stated on SBS radio, "The petition against the special prosecutor act has surpassed 20,000 signatures and will continue. The goal is to keep going until the Democratic Party declares it will abandon the legislation."

Meanwhile, following the president’s remarks about adjusting the pace, the ruling party appears to be trying to postpone discussions until after the local elections in response to concerns raised both inside and outside the party. The opposition, however, continues to frame the delay as nothing more than a political ploy for the election. Song Eonseok, People Power Party floor leader, criticized on this day, saying, "The main presidential crime-clearing project will be forcefully pushed through after the election," and called it "a cunning and deceitful scheme that insults the people."

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