Final People Power Party Leadership Debate
Jang Donghyuk: "Defending the Headquarters Is a Defensive Measure"
The candidates for the People Power Party leadership expressed differing views on how to respond to the special prosecutor's office's search and seizure of the party headquarters during the final televised debate held on the 23rd. Former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Munsu criticized Assemblyman Jang Donghyuk for not taking a firm stance against the special prosecutor's investigation.
Candidates Kim Munsu and Jang Donghyuk, who advanced to the runoff in the People Power Party leadership election, are taking a commemorative photo at the broadcast debate held on the 23rd at Channel A Gwanghwamun Studio in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
During the 6th party leadership candidate debate, held at the Channel A studio in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of August 23, former Minister Kim stated, "I have been staging an overnight sit-in for 10 nights and 11 days, confronting the special prosecutor who came to search the People Power Party headquarters," and added, "Since I first began the sit-in, the special prosecutor retreated and has not returned."
Directing his criticism at Assemblyman Jang, former Minister Kim said, "It is only natural to defend the party headquarters, where the party membership list is kept, when the special prosecutor comes in such a high-handed manner," and pressed, "What kind of struggle are you waging, Assemblyman Jang?"
In response, Assemblyman Jang argued, "You cannot block a warrant to the end through physical means without legal grounds or logic," and added, "Politics is about persuading the public with words and informing them of what is wrong."
He continued, "There are various ways to block the execution of a warrant. Defending the headquarters is a defensive measure. In fact, attacking is the best approach." He further explained, "I have spoken to the media about the legal issues with the execution of the warrant and continued solo protests to gain public support. Even if you block the first floor of the headquarters, there are multiple entrances to the building."
He also emphasized, "It is not because we defended the headquarters that the warrant was not re-executed. On the 18th, when the special prosecutor's team came to the main building and negotiated with the floor leadership, we blocked the execution of the warrant by contesting it on legal grounds."
In response, former Minister Kim countered, "The special prosecutor frequently conducts searches and comes to execute warrants. Does physically defending the headquarters have no meaning? Can you block them with logic alone?" He raised his voice, saying, "The problem is just talking. Struggle is not just about words; it is about joining forces and putting your whole body and all your strength into it."
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