"Runoff Candidate" Jang Donghyuk: "Urgent Need for Party Reform"
"Outdated Methods Must Be Abandoned... Distinct from Kim"
Jang Donghyuk, a candidate who advanced to the runoff in the People Power Party's new leadership election, emphasized on the 22nd, "For me, becoming party leader is not the end of my political career, but the beginning," adding, "I have an urgent sense of responsibility to reform the party, putting my political life on the line."
Candidate Jang Donghyuk, who advanced to the final runoff for the People Power Party leadership, is expressing his thoughts at the 6th Party Convention held on the 22nd at Osco in Cheongju, Chungbuk. Photo by Yonhap News
After the 6th Party Convention held at Osco in Cheongju, Chungbuk, on the afternoon of the same day, Jang met with reporters and said, "I am a candidate who can start from the present and lead the party into the future."
Jang stated, "I have never changed my stance on key issues depending on what is advantageous or disadvantageous," and added, "My position on party unity and a single front is also clear. In many respects, I have significant differences from candidate Kim Moonsoo."
Referring to Kim's long protest on the first floor of the party headquarters in response to the special prosecutor's planned raid on the People Power Party's central office, Jang said, "Legally, there was no connection to any crime, and there was no specific target for the raid, which is why the special prosecutor could not carry it out. It was not because someone was guarding the headquarters."
He continued, "To block the special prosecutor and fight against the ruling party, we need to fight strategically," and added, "We must abandon outdated methods of struggle and adopt new ways to fight."
Jang said, "If the party continues to lose elections while remaining divided and failing to show unity, there is no reason for its existence," and added, "To properly fulfill the role of an opposition party, a single front is necessary. Rather than vague unity that includes even those who undermine the party from within, we need a single front comprised of people who can move in the same direction together."
He further stated, "We cannot move forward with those who claim the rebellion is not over and continue to put the party at risk by labeling it as a force that sympathizes with rebellion."
Regarding how to attract supporters of Ahn Cheolsoo and Cho Kyungtae, who did not advance to the runoff, Jang said, "If I were to change my position, which I have maintained until now, just to win votes from those who supported other candidates, I would not deserve to be party leader," and added, "Even if it puts me at a disadvantage in the runoff, I have no intention of changing the stance I showed at the party convention."
Regarding the election of Yang Hyangja and Woo Jaejun, who are classified as pro-impeachment, as Supreme Council member and Youth Supreme Council member, respectively, Jang said, "I'm not saying there should be no dissenting voices within the party," but added, "After intense debate and once the party line is decided, everyone should follow it."
Jang explained, "The entire leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea is composed of figures from the Chungcheong region," and added, "If the People Power Party fails to produce a politician who can lead the central region and inspire future expectations among Chungcheong residents, next year's local elections will be very difficult in the central region." Jang's constituency is Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province.
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