People Power Party Launches Full-Scale Offensive Against 'Special Prosecution on Indictment Cancellation'... Ruling Party Says "After Local Elections"

Jang Donghyuk Holds Supreme Council Meeting in Front of the Blue House... Ramping Up Criticism

Han Byungdo, Re-elected: "Gathering Opinions from the Public and Party Members"

The People Power Party is expanding its efforts to block the “Special Prosecution Act on the Fabricated Indictment by the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration” ahead of the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3. With the Reform Party joining the cause, there is growing attention on the possibility of a broad opposition alliance for the elections. However, the Democratic Party has stated that it will postpone handling the special prosecution act until after the local elections, signaling its intention to put the brakes on the opposition’s election strategy.

The leadership of the People Power Party, including Jang Donghyuk, the party leader, and Song Eonsuk, the floor leader, are shouting slogans at the on-site Supreme Council meeting held on the 7th in front of the fountain at the Blue House Sarangchae in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

On the morning of May 7, People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk held a Supreme Council meeting in front of the Blue House in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and stated, “(Pushing for the special prosecution act) is a move to have a special prosecutor take away the indictment from the judge so that Lee Jaemyung can tear it up with his own hands,” appealing to opposition-leaning voters by saying, “This local election is about ending the dictatorship of the Lee Jaemyung administration.”

The People Power Party also held a protest rally and a general assembly of lawmakers the previous day, adopting a resolution to oppose the special prosecution act and to fight in solidarity with political parties, civil society, and others who agree with their stance. The party’s metropolitan area candidates are also raising their voices against the act, turning public opinion that had been leaning toward the ruling camp and using opposition to the act as a rallying point for their base. On May 5, candidates Oh Sehoon (Seoul Mayor), Yang Hyangja (Gyeonggi Province Governor), and Yoo Jeongbok (Incheon Mayor) issued a declaration opposing the act, and the following day, five candidates from the Yeongnam region—Kim Dukyum (Ulsan Mayor), Park Wansu (South Gyeongsang Governor), Park Hyungjoon (Busan Mayor), Lee Cheolwoo (North Gyeongsang Governor), and Choo Kyungho (Daegu Mayor)—also joined the opposition.

The Reform Party, led by Chairman Lee Junseok and Gyeonggi Province governor candidate Cho Eungcheon, has been actively discussing opposition to the special prosecution act. On the previous day, Busan mayoral candidate Jeong Ihan and Changwon mayoral candidate Kang Myeongsang proposed a joint meeting of opposition candidates in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region, reflecting the party’s active engagement.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is moving to slow down the process of passing the special prosecution act. This comes as President Lee Jaemyung has called for careful consideration and as the party seeks to avoid hurting centrist public opinion ahead of the local elections. Han Byungdo, who secured another term as Democratic Party floor leader, is prioritizing party stability and management of the local elections. In his inauguration remarks, he stated, “Regarding the timing, content, and procedures of handling the special prosecution act, we will gather opinions from the public and party members and carefully deliberate after the local elections.” On the afternoon of May 7, he is scheduled to meet with Hong Ikpyo, Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs, at the National Assembly to discuss party-government-presidential office cooperation plans on overcoming the Middle East crisis and key livelihood issues. However, he has also signaled a strong legislative drive after the local elections. Floor leader Han previously stated, “We will operate an emergency legislative system” and “We must complete legislation on major national policy tasks by December this year.”

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