Jang Dong-hyuk Targets 'Nationwide Re-election'; Oh Se-hoon Retorts, 'Stop Using Slogans to Save Your Position'

[Anchor]

Internal backlash has erupted within the People Power Party (PPP) after the side of leader Jang Dong-hyuk decided to file an election petition with the goal of holding a re-election. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon directly criticized Jang, calling his push for a "nationwide re-election" a "slogan aimed at preserving his own position." The Democratic Party also attacked the move, labeling it a self-contradictory act that tramples on the right to vote.

Reporter Park Chan-beom has the story.

[Reporter]

Following an emergency Supreme Council meeting yesterday (June 15), the side of PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk decided to file an election petition with the National Election Commission (NEC), explicitly stating that the goal of the petition is to trigger a re-election.

In contrast, it was reported that immediately after the meeting, floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik told Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon during a phone call that the move was intended to "have the NEC determine whether the situation in Songpa-gu, Seoul, affected the outcome of the Seoul mayoral election."

[Jeong Jeom-sik / PPP Floor Leader: We decided to file the petition based on the belief that carefully examining the impact of the infringement on voting rights on the election results is consistent with the principles of a fair election.]

This suggests the goal is not a "full-scale re-election," which may be why Mayor Oh's side stated yesterday that they would "wait and see."

However, after Jang posted on social media that his goal is a "nationwide re-election," Mayor Oh directly targeted Jang today (June 16), saying, "Stop using slogans to save your position."

[Oh Se-hoon / Mayor of Seoul: (Jang Dong-hyuk's move) is a highly political maneuver, conscious of his shaky leadership within the party and his weak standing.]

The argument is that Jang is pushing for a re-election for political gain to counter demands for his resignation.

A two-term PPP lawmaker told SBS, "It seems Jang is calculating that he can absorb the conservative votes of people in their 20s and 30s who are demanding a re-election, with an eye toward future power struggles within the party."

Jang responded by saying he had never discussed the re-election issue with Mayor Oh, adding the following.

[Jang Dong-hyuk / PPP Leader (Munhwa Ilbo YouTube 'Heo Min's News Show'): There may be differences of opinion, but this is a matter of principle.]

The Democratic Party condemned the election petition filed by Jang's side for the purpose of a re-election, stating, "They are trying to invalidate the perfectly valid votes of all citizens."

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: This is a self-contradiction that tramples on the very voting rights they have been shouting about. Immediately withdraw this 'blind petition' and conspiracy-mongering.]

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to process a plan for a parliamentary investigation into the NEC at the National Assembly plenary session the day after tomorrow.

The special committee for the parliamentary investigation will be composed of an equal number of nine members from both the ruling and opposition parties, with the PPP holding the chairmanship.

(Reported by Park Chan-beom | Video by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Lee Seung-hee | Graphics by Jo Su-in)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.