Jang Je-won: "Kim Jong-in's Autocratic Leadership Has Become Entrenched... Limits Revealed"

Some parts of Assemblyman Jang Je-won's Facebook.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, criticized Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman, on the occasion of his 100th day in office, pointing out his "authoritarian leadership" and stating that "the Emergency Response Committee has shown its limitations."

On the 2nd, Jang said on Facebook, "Kim Chairman's 100 days were a period that clearly revealed limitations amid efforts for change."

He pointed out, "The party approval rating, which had a surprising rebound, has declined, and the gap with the Democratic Party is widening," adding, "In most opinion polls, it is below the highest point of 34% achieved during Hwang Kyo-ahn's leadership."

Jang stated, "The biggest reason is the limitations revealed by Kim Jong-in's Emergency Response Committee," criticizing that it has failed to provide answers to issues he raised, such as basic income and solidarity with the underprivileged.

He further pointed out that Kim's authoritarian leadership was clearly revealed during the party name change and the revision of the party platform and policies. He said, "The fact that many lawmakers raised sharp procedural issues at the party meeting is very telling," and added, "Rushing to push through the revision of the party platform and a new party name at the 100-day inauguration table of the Emergency Response Committee Chairman is no different from the past one-man dominance and authoritarian party image."

Jang said, "In a situation where there is only one candidate, I came across an article that Kim Chairman mocked former lawmaker Hong Jung-wook, who causes a media stir just by being mentioned, saying, 'Is being young and good-looking enough?'" and added, "It even made me think, 'That's really bad.'"

Regarding the recent moves to cut ties with far-right forces, he said, "The Emergency Response Committee has fallen into the 'break with the far-right' frame raised by some media and political circles," and criticized, "Regardless of agreement with the criticism, it failed to show the public a consistent stance on the Gwanghwamun rallies."

Jang said, "Before the Gwanghwamun rallies, the party showed an ambiguous and indecisive stance, saying 'We cannot tell party members whether to go or not,' but when public opinion surged, it suddenly changed to 'No need to engage' and 'Just ignore them,' which the public must have felt as 'cold-blooded cunningness,'" adding, "This is why the Democratic Party's political offensive of slander works."

While acknowledging, "The act of kneeling and apologizing in front of the May 18 Democratic Cemetery and instilling a reform image in the party should certainly be evaluated," Jang criticized, "There is a need for a change in authoritarian leadership and concrete alternatives to the array of flashy issues presented."

He concluded, "If not, despite the authoritarianism of the incompetent Moon Jae-in administration, another dark shadow will fall on the Seoul mayoral by-election, which was like a 'ray of light of revival,'" and said, "I hope Kim Chairman will show a selfless leadership that empties himself during the remaining term."