PPP's Jang Donghyuk Calls for Democratic Party Dissolution; Democratic Party Responds: "Brazen and Shameless"

In response to Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, criticizing the Democratic Party of Korea for raising suspicions about the meeting between Cho Hee-dae and Han Duck-soo and labeling it as an "unconstitutional party that should be dissolved," the Democratic Party countered by calling his remarks "brazen and shameless."

On September 20, Seungah Baek, Floor Spokesperson of the Democratic Party, stated in a commentary, "The term 'dictatorship' is actually more fitting for the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the People Power Party, who are heirs to military dictatorship and instigators of illegal martial law and rebellion."

Seungah Baek, Floor Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Baek further argued, "They must first cooperate with the investigation into anti-constitutional crimes, which include obstructing the lifting of martial law and mobilizing religious forces to undermine the very foundation of the Constitution and party democracy." She added, "Isn't it the People Power Party, which is trying to cover up illegality and corruption, that is the real unconstitutional and anti-constitutional party?"

She continued, "Leader Jang should stop distorting the issue for political gain and join efforts to root out insurrectionist forces and achieve judicial justice, which are the essence of judicial reform."

She also pointed out, "Judicial reform, an urgent task of our time, is a consequence brought about by the judiciary itself." She emphasized, "The historical wrongdoings and public distrust accumulated through numerous political trials and collusion among vested interests have made today's judicial reform inevitable." She further stressed, "The judiciary, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, must take responsibility and resolve the issues they have created. They must face the root causes of public distrust in the judiciary, acknowledge historical wrongs, and engage in self-reflection."

Criticism of Leader Jang and the People Power Party continued within the party. Assemblyman Park Ji-won stated on social media platform Facebook that, in relation to the discovery of a large number of suspected Unification Church members in the People Power Party's membership list seized by the special prosecutor, "The separation of religion and politics is mandated by the Constitution. If 110,000 members of the People Power Party are systematically Unification Church followers, this constitutes a serious constitutional violation." He added, "The voluntary dissolution of the People Power Party is the way to uphold the Constitution."

Han Minsoo, Chief of Staff to the Party Leader, also criticized, "Leader Jang is truly shameless," and questioned, "Who is the one supporting Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of insurrection, betraying the overwhelming majority of the people, and sowing division?"

Earlier that day, Leader Jang held a press conference and rebutted the Democratic Party's suspicions regarding the meeting between Cho Hee-dae and Han Duck-soo, stating, "The Democratic Party brought a fabricated audio file to the National Assembly and staged a nationwide fraud." He further asserted, "It is clear that the Democratic Party is an anti-constitutional political terror group, and the real unconstitutional party that should be dissolved is the Democratic Party."