Jang Donghyeok, leader of the People Power Party, is expressing his position regarding his absence from a luncheon with President Lee Jaemyung at the National Assembly. February 12, 2026 Yonhap News

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On February 12, Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, explained his decision not to attend a luncheon meeting between President Lee Jaemyung and the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, saying, "After the luncheon was scheduled, they railroaded bad laws such as the Constitutional Complaint Act, and then still suggested having lunch with the leader of the main opposition party. That is like serving rice made of sand on the table," adding, "We cannot go into the Blue House to eat rice made of sand while claiming to discuss people's livelihoods."

At a press conference held at the National Assembly that morning, Jang said of the background to his decision not to attend the luncheon meeting with the president and the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, "We cannot respond to a situation where a knife is hidden behind one's back with one hand while the other hand is extended for a handshake," and added, "By any measure, today's luncheon seems to be something that President Lee and Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheongrae should have between the two of them."

He said, "I received the luncheon proposal yesterday morning. There were aspects that were not appropriate in terms of timing, format, and agenda, but I immediately expressed my willingness to accept it because I agreed with the intention of discussing people's livelihoods together ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday," and pointed out, "However, afterward, the Democratic Party unilaterally pushed through the Constitutional Complaint Act and the bill to increase the number of Supreme Court justices at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee." He went on to say, "Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae also expressed concern that this is a serious issue that could cause enormous harm to the public," and criticized, "The Lunar New Year gift that Jeong prepared for President Lee has become a disaster for the people."

On Feb. 12 at the National Assembly, People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk is preparing to make a statement regarding his absence from a luncheon with President Lee Jaemyung. 2026.2.12 Yonhap

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Jang further stated, "Whenever a meeting with the president is scheduled, outrageous acts such as the unilateral forcing through of legislation right before or right after have been repeated. If it happens repeatedly, it becomes inevitable," and added, "If the Blue House was unaware of this in advance, then the ruling party is putting the president in a difficult position; if they went ahead knowing it, then it means they have no will for cooperative governance."

He specifically targeted the Democratic Party, saying, "On major issues such as legislation, the president, the ruling party, and the National Assembly must fully consult," and added, "To keep unilaterally pushing things through like this while talking about cooperative governance is logically inconsistent."

Jang also plans to suspend dialogue with the ruling party, including by not attending the plenary session of the National Assembly scheduled for this afternoon. He said, "I discussed this issue with Floor Leader Song Eonseok, and Floor Leader Song shares the same position," adding, "It seems likely that the People Power Party will not attend today's plenary session."

Hong Ikpyo, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, is entering the Chunchugwan briefing room at the Blue House to brief on the luncheon scheduled for Feb. 12 between President Lee Jaemyung, Democratic Party leader Jung Cheongrae, and People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk that was canceled. Photo by Yonhap News

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The Blue House said it was "very regrettable" that Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, canceled the luncheon with the president.

Hong Ikpyo, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, said at a briefing at the Chunchugwan press room that morning, "The meeting scheduled today between the president and the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties has been canceled due to the sudden notification from Leader Jang that he would not attend," and added, "We express deep regret that we have missed an opportunity for communication and cooperative governance on state affairs."

Hong said, "It is highly inappropriate for the People Power Party to explain the situation in the National Assembly as if it were linked to the Blue House," and countered, "The National Assembly schedule and the operation of standing committees are matters for the ruling party to handle." He then pointed out, "The Blue House does not engage in any form of involvement or interference, so canceling a scheduled luncheon on the grounds of the National Assembly is very regrettable."

Hong went on to say, "Even so, the Blue House will not let go of the thread of dialogue in order to improve people's lives," and stressed, "The Lee Jaemyung administration will continue on the path of cooperative governance through mutual respect and responsible dialogue." However, when asked whether another meeting with Jang would be pushed for again in the near future, he refrained from comment, saying, "It is difficult to give a definitive answer."

Meanwhile, when asked about President Lee's reaction, Hong replied, "He had nothing in particular to say."

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was briefly lost in thought at the launching ceremony for the 6th Youth Future Joint Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. 2026.2.12 Yonhap News

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Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Jang Donghyuk's announcement that he would not attend the luncheon meeting with President Lee Jaemyung, saying, "The People Power Party is truly absurd. He requested it himself and then broke it himself; what on earth is he doing now?"

On his social networking service (SNS) account that day, Jeong said, "Because of the rudeness of the People Power Party, the Blue House luncheon has fallen through," and added, "Although the luncheon has been canceled, I will release the prepared opening remarks."

In the opening remarks Jeong made public, he begins by saying, "I would like to thank you for arranging this occasion of harmony where the president and the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties can come together ahead of the Lunar New Year."

President Lee Jaemyung is taking a commemorative photo with Jung Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, who attended a bipartisan leadership luncheon at the Yongsan Presidential Office on Sept. 8 last year. 2025.9.8 Photo by Presidential Office Photographers' Pool, Yonhap News

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He expressed his gratitude for the achievements of the Lee Jaemyung administration, such as overcoming the December 3 Martial Law, summit diplomacy, the era of KOSPI 5000, and record-high export volumes, and wrote, "As President Lee said, 2026 will be 'the first year of a great transformation and great leap forward for the Republic of Korea,'" adding, "For this to happen, the National Assembly must fully play its role."

As legislative tasks, he mentioned: the Special Act on Administrative Integration, which aims to achieve region-centered growth beyond the current Seoul metropolitan area-centered system; the act to establish a Real Estate Supervisory Agency to eradicate illegal activities in the real estate market; and the third amendment to the Commercial Act, whose main focus is the mandatory cancellation of treasury shares. He also stressed that the Special Act on Investment in the United States, which is directly tied to the survival of companies, must be dealt with by March 9, in accordance with the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties.

In addition, for judicial and prosecutorial reform, he said that bills such as prosecutorial reform to completely separate investigation and indictment, increasing the number of Supreme Court justices to ensure speedy trials, a constitutional complaint system that broadly guarantees the basic rights of the people, and the crime of distortion of law to eradicate fabricated indictments must be pursued steadfastly.

Jeong concluded, "We will make every effort to ensure the swift passage of livelihood- and reform-related bills. As the ruling party holding more than a majority of the seats, we will play a more proactive role," and added, "We will also communicate more closely with the opposition parties, including the People Power Party, and engage in healthy competition through policies and legislation."