Jang Dong-hyuk Calls for Meeting with President Lee on Election Issues

Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, publicly proposed a meeting with President Lee Jae-myung on June 7, stating, "Anytime today or in any format would be acceptable." The meeting aims to convey citizens' concerns regarding the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections and to seek a responsible response from the president.

During a press conference at the National Assembly, Jang emphasized the need for the government to provide a satisfactory answer to the youth protecting Olympic Park, demanding an immediate response from President Lee.

He criticized President Lee and the Democratic Party for ignoring the growing calls for by-elections across the country. Referring to the gatherings at Olympic Park as a "well-organized civic resistance movement," Jang warned, "If anyone tries to silence the voices of the citizens and trample on legitimate resistance, they will face the judgment of the people."

Additionally, Jang urged the ruling party to initiate a national investigation and special prosecution aimed at reforming the National Election Commission and the Public Election Act. He stressed the importance of the National Assembly fulfilling its duty to clarify the situation and hold responsible parties accountable.

However, he noted that in the current climate where citizens are demanding by-elections, investigations and special prosecutions alone are not ultimate solutions. He emphasized the need for sufficient and responsible measures to calm public anger and allow citizens to return to their daily lives.

Jang stated, "We cannot delay the public demand for reform of the Election Commission and the electoral system. If we dismantled a functioning prosecution, we cannot leave the far more serious Election Commission untouched." He also argued for the elimination of early voting, suggesting that dismissing claims of electoral fraud is not enough; rather, the roots of such claims must be addressed.

He proposed that abolishing early voting and extending the voting period to three days could be potential solutions, clarifying that the goal is not to restrict voting rights but to enhance the process while eliminating controversy.