Jang Donghyuk Says "No Real Need to Meet President Lee... I Can Rebut Him on Social Media"

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, said regarding his notice that he would not attend a luncheon with President Lee Jaemyung just before the Lunar New Year holiday, "After trying it on social media, I felt there was no real need to meet in person."

Appearing on Channel A on the 18th, Jang responded this way when asked whether he should "meet in person and discuss solutions," in reference to the exchanges he had with President Lee over real estate issues on social media during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Yonhap News Agency

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Jang explained, "Since the president keeps posting messages, it seems sufficient for me to rebut them that way," adding, "What I meant, in a sarcastic way, by saying there is no real need to meet in person, is that instead of continuing to do politics through social media like this, the president should sit down with the opposition party leader and discuss these issues together."

He also refuted criticism from the Democratic Party of Korea that he is a multiple-home owner who owns all or part of six housing units, including an apartment in Seoul. Jang said, "I live in one apartment in Seoul with my family, and I bought one home in my constituency (Boryeong and Seocheon in South Chungcheong Province) for constituency activities," adding, "There is a rural house where my elderly mother lives, and when my father-in-law passed away, I inherited a share of the apartment in Jinju where my mother-in-law lives."

He went on, "Lastly, I also inherited a share of an apartment in Gyeonggi Province that my father-in-law purchased with his severance pay in order to earn rental income after retirement," adding, "My mother-in-law lives on the rent from that apartment."

He added, "Finally, I own an officetel near Yeouido for work purposes while carrying out parliamentary activities," and explained, "Each property is being used according to its purpose, so there is nothing I can dispose of."

Jang then asked rhetorically, "The president does not even bring up the first letter of the word 'tariff' regarding the difficult customs issue he is facing, yet he talks only about real estate policy every night. Is this because he has no interest in the customs issue, or because he has no solution and is therefore repeatedly trying to shift the agenda to real estate?"

Regarding the disciplinary action against lawmaker Bae Hyunjin, he said, "It was a decision made by the Ethics Committee and the Supreme Council through due process in accordance with the party constitution and party regulations," and stated firmly, "We have not separately reviewed any cancellation or similar measures regarding the disciplinary action."

In response to criticism that the party leadership is focusing only on "subtractive politics," he countered, "The disciplinary action against Assemblywoman Bae concerns what kind of awareness the People Power Party has about children's human rights," adding, "If we fail to handle this properly and thereby become distant from the public, that would be subtractive politics."

On speculation that former party leader Han Donghoon may run as an independent in the June 3 local elections, he said, "He is no longer a member of our party, so it is not my place to comment on whether former leader Han is considering running in this local election or has various plans for his future political moves."

Asked what stance he would take after the first-instance verdict on former President Yoon Sukyeol's insurrection case is handed down on the 19th, he replied, "Our position may differ depending on the outcome of the ruling."

Jang added, "Our party has already stated several times its position on a 'complete break' with former President Yoon. What is more important now than a break is a transition," and continued, "What the public wants now is not to remain stuck in the past, but to shift our agenda in a way that can provide a sense of political efficacy and demonstrate competence as a conservative party."

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