This afternoon, a rally was held at Olympic Park in Seoul demanding the protection of voting rights. People Power Party Representative Jang Dong-hyeon, who has consistently visited rally sites, attended today alongside thousands of local party chapter heads and members. Critics within the party slammed the move as an attempt to "line up" members.
Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.
At today's "Voting Rights Protection Rally" held at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, about 10 lawmakers from the People Power Party attended, including Representative Jang Dong-hyeon, Secretary-General Jung Hee-yong, and lawmakers Park Dae-chul, Lee In-sun, and Kim Min-jeon. The People Power Party stated that 3,000 external party chapter heads and members were also in attendance.
Representative Jang raised his voice, demanding that the upcoming special counsel investigation team for the National Election Commission swiftly uncover the truth behind the ballot paper shortage.
[Jang Dong-hyeon / Representative, People Power Party: A special counsel will be appointed soon. If they fail to conduct a thorough investigation, they will be judged as sinners before history...]
Most party lawmakers, including floor leader Jung Jeom-sik, who is considered the party's number two official, did not attend today's rally.
Recently, Representative Jang activated the party's Organization Reinforcement Special Committee, signaling his intent to replace local chapter heads who show weak capabilities in fighting against the ruling party. Inside and outside the party, interpretations are emerging that this is a strategic move to tighten his grip on the party.
Non-leadership lawmakers sharpened their criticism, claiming that certain party chapters practically mobilized members to attend the rally, calling it "line-up politics" and a move to "privatize the party" using the representative's authority.
They criticized that the organized mobilization for an external rally that is not an official party event is inappropriate.
However, the party leadership countered that the party leadership never requested attendance at the party level.
[Park Sung-hoon / Senior Spokesperson, People Power Party: We understand it was a voluntary participation. It shows our will to show solidarity with the 20-30 generation who have been crying out against the infringement of voting rights...]
Meanwhile, the bipartisan National Election Commission Special Counsel Recommendation Committee recommended attorneys Lee Tae-han and Lee Hyuk, both former prosecutors, as special counsel candidates yesterday. President Lee Jae-myung will appoint one of them as the special counsel by the day after tomorrow.
(Camera: Yang Ji-hoon / Video Editing: Park Sun-soo / Design: Han Heung-soo)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.