Jang Dong-hyuk Targets 'Nationwide Re-election'; Oh Se-hoon Retorts, 'Stop Using Slogans to Save Your Position'

[Anchor]

As People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyuk’s side decided to file an election petition with the goal of holding a re-election, backlash has erupted within the party. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon directly criticized Representative Jang, calling his push for a "full re-election" a "slogan aimed at preserving his own position." The Democratic Party also sharpened its criticism, labeling the move a self-contradiction that tramples on voting rights.

Reporter Park Chan-beom has the story.

[Reporter]

Following an emergency Supreme Council meeting yesterday (June 15), the side of People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk decided to file an election petition with the National Election Commission, explicitly stating that the goal of the petition is to hold a "re-election."

In contrast, it was reported that immediately after the meeting, floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik told Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in a phone call that the move was intended to "have the Election Commission determine whether the situation in Songpa-gu, Seoul, affected the outcome of the Seoul mayoral election."

[Jeong Jeom-sik / PPP Floor Leader: We decided to file the petition based on the belief that carefully examining the impact of the infringement on voting rights on the election results is in line with the principles of a fair election.]

This implies that a "full re-election" is not the objective, which may be why Mayor Oh’s side stated yesterday that they would "wait and see."

However, after Representative Jang posted on social media that "the goal is a nationwide re-election," Mayor Oh directly targeted him today (June 16), saying, "Stop using slogans to save your position."

[Oh Se-hoon / Mayor of Seoul: (Representative Jang Dong-hyuk’s move) is a highly political maneuver, conscious of his shaky leadership and weak standing within the party.]

The argument is that Representative Jang is pushing for a re-election for political purposes to counter demands for his resignation.

A two-term PPP lawmaker told SBS, "It seems Representative Jang is calculating to absorb the 2030 conservative vote that is demanding a re-election, with an eye on future struggles for party leadership."

Representative Jang responded by saying he has never discussed the re-election issue with Mayor Oh, adding the following:

[Jang Dong-hyuk / PPP Leader (Munhwa Ilbo YouTube 'Heo Min's News Show'): There may be differences of opinion, but this is a matter of principle.]

The Democratic Party condemned the election petition filed by Representative Jang’s side, stating, "They are trying to invalidate the perfectly valid votes of all citizens."

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: It is a self-contradiction that tramples on the very voting rights of the people they have been shouting about. Immediately withdraw this 'no-questions-asked petition' and conspiracy theory agitation.]

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to process the plan for a parliamentary investigation into the National Election Commission at the plenary session of the National Assembly the day after tomorrow.

The special committee for the parliamentary investigation will be composed of an equal number of nine members from both the ruling and opposition parties, and the People Power Party will chair the committee.

(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Lee Seung-hee | Design: Jo Su-in)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.