Jang Donghyuk: "Martial Law, a Moment to Move Forward After Overcoming Wounds With Time"

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, said on May 8, "I am not sure how martial law hurt the people or what kind of confusion it brought," adding, "As time passes, it becomes another moment for the Republic of Korea to move forward, overcoming its wounds, and I believe that even at that moment, God was watching over Korea."

At a press conference for foreign correspondents hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, that afternoon, Jang was asked about his remarks regarding "God’s will in martial law." He responded, "God achieved the work of salvation even through Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus," and made the above statement.

Yonhap News

Regarding his support for lifting the December 3 Martial Law and opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Jang said, "There could be various ways to resolve the issue of martial law; impeachment is one way, but it is not the only way," adding, "After martial law, there were also voices within the party for gradual resignation, but due to internal divisions, it was not realized, and we ourselves opened the door to impeachment."

He continued, "As a member of the National Assembly affiliated with the People Power Party, I believe there were sufficient political ways to prevent national division, reduce social costs, and avoid internal party strife," adding, "During the impeachment process, there were parts where the Constitutional Court did not properly guarantee the right to defense and did not faithfully follow the procedures stipulated by law. I believe it was only natural to point out and correct these issues."

Jang also stated, "(As a Protestant) I believe God is the God of all nations. Whether the people of Israel were in Egypt or in the wilderness, God was always with them," adding, "Even their faults became material for the history God intended to create, turning them into God's history."

Furthermore, Jang said, "God achieved the work of salvation that He intended, even through the event of Judas betraying Jesus, and as a Protestant, this is my belief," adding, "(Of course) saying that even Judas Iscariot was used in the work of salvation does not mean I am defending Judas Iscariot."

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