"Jang Je-won is Scary, Can't Broadcast," Claims; Lee Jun-seok Says, "Anyone Should Be Able to Criticize Freely"

Political Commentator Professor Jang Seong-cheol Claims "Received Protest Calls After Criticizing Jang Je-won"

Jang Je-won, member of the People Power Party./Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, was exposed for complaining to a broadcasting station about a political commentator who criticized him on air. Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, targeted Jang by saying, "Current affairs panelists should feel free to speak critically of anyone." Lee and Jang have recently been in conflict over party leadership.

On the 28th, Lee shared an article related to Jang on Facebook and said, "No matter how much I criticize Lee Jun-seok, I never contact the broadcasting station or the panelists separately. There should be no sacred ground anywhere else," expressing his stance.

The article Lee shared reported that political commentator Jang Sung-chul, a special professor at Catholic University, made critical remarks about Jang Je-won on a broadcast, after which Jang Je-won called the broadcasting station to complain.

Professor Jang wrote on Facebook that day, "I think someone like Jang Je-won is dangerous to the regime. I don't understand if a person in power calls a broadcasting station to raise issues and complain about me just because I criticized his behavior on air," adding, "I'm too scared to be a broadcast panelist." He continued, "If you try to stop me from appearing on broadcasts, I won't do it," and "If there are any parts I misunderstood or wrongly criticized, please contact me directly."

On the previous day’s YTN program 'Night Focus,' Professor Jang criticized the Future Innovation Forum within the People Power Party, led by Jang Je-won, saying, "Why do you think it was created? To show 'I, Jang Je-won, am a key aide to President Yoon,' and 'I, Jang Je-won, will exercise party leadership together with the forum members.' Why do they want such factionalization? Isn't it because of some particular selfish interests? It is a very inappropriate act."

Lee’s Facebook post is interpreted as an indirect criticism of Jang Je-won, showing agreement with Professor Jang’s claims amid ongoing conflicts between the pro-Yoon faction and party leadership.