'Alternative and Future' group says Jang must reflect on his own conduct
Jang targets election commission on return, calls for abolishing early voting
Official vehicle fitted with banners demanding special prosecutor probe
Floor leader Jung canvasses lawmakers to gauge opinion on leadership crisis
Young reformist lawmakers within the People Power Party renewed calls Thursday for the party leadership to step down, saying the rebuilding of conservatism must begin with the dissolution of the current leadership — even as party leader Jang Dong-hyeok returned from the hospital and flatly rejected demands for his resignation.
The PPP's reformist caucus, known as "Alternative and Future," held a breakfast meeting at the National Assembly on Thursday morning to discuss Jang's future. Speaking to reporters before the gathering, lawmaker Park Jeong-ha said, "As Jang himself has said, the first step toward rebuilding conservatism must start with his own resignation."
Lawmaker Ko Dong-jin said it was "deeply regrettable" that Jang had indicated he would follow only the wishes of party members, adding that Jang appeared to lack the self-reflection the situation demanded. Lawmaker Song Seok-jun also weighed in, saying "a wise decision on his part would help open the door to the future," and questioning whether Jang should first rein in his own inner circle if he truly intended to restore discipline.
Jang had been discharged from the hospital the previous day and immediately held a press conference at the National Assembly, where he rejected the resignation calls. "The question of the party leader's future is for party members to decide — not a handful of lawmakers," he said.
At Thursday's supreme council meeting, Jang again pressed for a special prosecutor investigation and a by-election in connection with the ballot shortage crisis. "Only a special prosecutor can determine whether the president bears responsibility," he said, adding that a by-election would only be possible if a fundamental change occurred.
He also criticized the Democratic Party, saying its refusal to accept a special prosecutor left only one explanation. "It would be an admission that the National Election Commission, Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party are all in the same boat," he said. He also said this was "not the time to be talking about constitutional reform."
Jang revived his call to abolish early voting, citing a proposal by the National Election Commission workers' union to the Democratic Party of Korea that would replace early voting with a two-day main election. He said the approach was correct "from the standpoint of fair election administration."
It was also confirmed Thursday that Jang had affixed banner-style stickers to his official vehicle bearing slogans such as "Suffrage is the people's right; a special prosecutor is the people's demand." The move was a further sign that he intends to keep up his offensive over the ballot shortage controversy and his push for a special prosecutor.
Meanwhile, Supreme Council member Woo Jae-jun, who had publicly demanded Jang's resignation, made no separate remarks at Thursday's meeting. Speaking to reporters immediately afterward, he said he had stayed silent "as a form of protest." Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja, who had previously expressed sympathy for calls for a full leadership resignation, also offered no separate statement that day.
Floor leader Jung Seok-jun, seen as the key figure in resolving the standoff, has been meeting with lawmakers in groups by seniority to canvass opinion on Jang's future. However, Jung has maintained since taking office that "sufficient consultation must come before any rush to act," leading observers to suggest the dispute over the leadership's fate could drag on for some time.
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