"Will Push for Special Counsel and Re-elections… Party Members to Decide My Future"

[Anchor]

People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyuk has returned to the National Assembly six days after being hospitalized due to deteriorating health. Leader Jang stated that he would ensure the implementation of a special counsel probe into the restoration of voting rights and the holding of re-elections, while drawing a line regarding calls for his resignation, stating that it is a matter for party members to decide.

Reporter Son Hyung-ahn has the story.

[Reporter]

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, who had been hospitalized after complaining of health issues due to accumulated fatigue following the June 3 local elections, was discharged and has returned to his party duties after six days.

Holding a press conference at the National Assembly, Leader Jang made it clear that he has no intention of resigning, stating that his position, which has been linked to calls for accountability regarding the local election results, is a matter for party members to decide.

[Jang Dong-hyuk / People Power Party Leader: This is not a matter that the party leader can decide on his own, and it is certainly not a matter for a few lawmakers to decide.]

Regarding the internal discord erupting over his future, he remarked, "We are already struggling to fight against the administration, yet we are exhausting our energy on meaningless conflict."

Leader Jang emphasized that regarding the ballot shortage incident, "Now is the time to focus on the special counsel probe for the restoration of voting rights and to pool our strength for the re-elections."

In response, Representative Park Jung-hoon, who is considered close to Han Dong-hoon, posted on social media, "There has never been a defeated leader in the history of political parties who showed such shamelessness," adding, "At the very least, he should ask for a vote of confidence from the party members."

Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended a forum on the June 3 local elections held at the National Assembly this morning (June 24) and lent weight to the idea of an orderly resignation for Jang Dong-hyuk.

Mayor Oh suggested that rushing things would only lead to side effects and urged senior party members to play a role in this process.

Mayor Oh also remarked that "the party must move toward a parliamentary-centered structure to avoid unnecessary conflict," which has been interpreted as supporting Floor Leader Jung Jeom-sik, who has been sending messages that differ from those of Leader Jang day after day.

(Video coverage: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Park Sun-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.