DPK Criticizes PPP’s Election Appeal as 'Shameless Ploy to Protect Jang Dong-hyuk'

The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has once again criticized the People Power Party (PPP) for its decision to file an election appeal regarding the ballot paper shortage during the June 3 local elections, labeling it a "petition to protect Representative Jang Dong-hyuk."

During the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly today (June 17), floor leader Han Byung-do stated, "Representative Jang is obsessed with inciting claims of election fraud based on madness and delusions," adding, "He is deceiving the public by peddling all sorts of conspiracy theories that completely contradict common sense, without even attempting to gather opinions within his own party."

"Poor election management and election fraud are concepts as different as heaven and earth," Han said. "I urge Representative Jang and the election fraud conspiracy theorists in the PPP, who act like shamans, to regain their reason and cooperate with the parliamentary investigation and the truth-finding process regarding this situation."

Supreme Council member Hwang Myung-sun raised his voice, saying, "Representative Jang is abusing an incident that infringed upon the right to vote as a 'petition for protection' to keep his party leadership position, rather than to protect the voting rights of the people."

He pointed out, "Engaging in false agitation and calling for a re-election to rally extreme supporters in order to protect his own position as party leader also undermines the sincerity of the young people who are trying to protect the people's right to vote."

He further added, "What our citizens and young people want is a thorough investigation into the ballot shortage, accountability for those responsible, and a complete reform of the National Election Commission to ensure such incidents never happen again," stating that "demands by figures like Jang Dong-hyuk, Hwang Kyo-ahn, and Jeon Han-gil to invalidate the choices of citizens who voted normally for their own political gain undermine the foundations of the rule of law and democracy."

Supreme Council member Moon Jeong-bok also emphasized, "The PPP leadership must stop its contradictory behavior of agreeing to a parliamentary investigation while simultaneously filing for a full re-election and engaging in street politics," adding, "What is needed now is not commotion, but the truth."

Meanwhile, DPK senior deputy floor leader Cheon Jun-ho, deputy floor leader for communication Jeon Yong-gi, and Lim Oh-kyung, the ranking member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, visited Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where protests blocking the vote-counting center are currently underway.

They met with sports organization officials to discuss the situation where office access has been blocked due to the protests and to deliberate on countermeasures.

"I came here with the thought that we should not just watch from afar," said senior deputy floor leader Cheon. "We will first appeal to (the protesters) to cooperate, and I will explain the parliamentary investigation (agreed upon) yesterday to be processed at the plenary session tomorrow, and persuade them to resolve the issue."

Separately from the government, the DPK has also decided to pursue party-government consultations and policy forums regarding youth policies.

This is interpreted as a move to appease the youth sentiment shaken by the ballot paper shortage incident.

Senior spokesperson Kang Joon-hyun met with reporters after the Supreme Council meeting today and explained, "There are several issues regarding youth policy that the party needs to respond to quickly," adding, "We plan to discuss these at the policy committee level and have the party and government communicate closely to resolve issues promptly, including through policy forums."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.