Jang Asks Jin Sook Lee to Run in By-Election... "Hopes for Cooperation in the Spirit of Putting the Party First"

by Kim Pyeonghwa

by Lee Sungmin

Published 13 Apr.2026 15:59(KST)

Updated 13 Apr.2026 16:41(KST)

"Jang Donghyuk's U.S. Visit Expanded Following IRI Invitation"

Donghyuk Jang, Leader of the People Power Party, met with former Korea Communications Commission Chairwoman Jin Sook Lee on April 9 and requested that she run in the upcoming by-election instead of the Daegu mayor. The party has since stated that they are "waiting for her response."

Donghyuk Jang, Leader of the People Power Party

Park Sunghoon, Chief Spokesperson of the People Power Party, told reporters at the National Assembly's press center on April 13, "Last Thursday (the 9th), the party leader met with former Chairwoman Lee Jin Sook," adding, "To my knowledge, only the two of them met, without any aides present."

Chief Spokesperson Park explained, "(Leader Jang) made a request to former Chairwoman Lee to run in the by-election," and added, "We expect her to cooperate with a spirit of putting the party and its members first."

He continued, "We are currently waiting for her response," and added, "During these difficult times for the party, we expect former Chairwoman Lee to make the right decision for the party and its members."

Meanwhile, regarding reports that Leader Jang's current trip to the United States was planned independently, Chief Spokesperson Park clarified, "I want to make it clear that the visit was carried out at the invitation of the International Republican Institute (IRI)."

Kim Dae Sik, People Power Party lawmaker and head of the special delegation for the U.S. visit, also stated on his social media account the same day, "It is true that the IRI officially invited Leader Jang by hosting a roundtable."

Assemblyman Kim added, "The IRI has never been in charge of the entire itinerary for the U.S. visit," and explained, "After the schedule was made public in connection with the IRI invitation, requests for meetings poured in from various quarters in the United States, and the itinerary was subsequently expanded and adjusted accordingly."

Leader Jang, who departed for the United States on April 11, will carry out a 5-night, 7-day schedule in the country. Starting with a visit to the Korean War Veterans Memorial on April 14 (local time), he is scheduled to meet with members of the U.S. Congress and visit the White House, among other engagements.