[Anchor]

Calls for the resignation of People Power Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok are growing stronger within the party once again. Some party members have stepped forward to deliver a letter urging the mass resignation of the leadership, carrying the signatures of some 20,000 people, to senior lawmakers. The party leadership, however, has drawn a line, dismissing it as a one-sided claim of unverified authenticity.

Reporter Park Chan-beom has the story.

[Reporter]

This is the joint petition calling for the resignation of the People Power Party leadership led by Jang Dong-hyeok.

Some party members demanding party reform began a signature collection campaign last June, and posts urging participation were also uploaded to online groups supporting independent lawmaker Handong.

They claim to have gathered signatures from some 22,000 party members and citizens so far, and stated that they sent emails today (the 5th) to 33 senior lawmakers of the People Power Party serving three or more terms, asking whether they would accept the petition.

Lawmakers serving three terms are scheduled to meet on the 17th, and those serving four or more terms are set to gather later this month, to discuss the issue of leader Jang Dong-hyeok stepping down.

[Cho Kyung-tae / People Power Party Lawmaker: For someone who advocates rigged elections and defends the ringleader of an insurrection to act as the leader of the main opposition party is a historical irony in itself.]

The party leadership stated, "It has not been verified how many of the signatories are genuine responsible party members," adding that it is a one-sided claim of unknown authenticity.

Leader Jang also noted that there are over one million responsible party members, stating that this does not reflect the views of the entire membership.

[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader: Whether this is based on the voluntary will of the party members, or part of another strategy to shake the leadership as has always been the case...]

Refusing to step down and marking his first anniversary in office this month, leader Jang appears to be seeking ways to consolidate his party control. Speculation is rising that he may broadly replace local party chapter heads with figures close to the pro-leadership faction, citing reasons such as sluggish anti-government struggle activities.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shindong | Video editing: Oh Young-taek, Design: Cho Su-in)