People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok poses for a photo with attendees at a national parents' forum on voting rights violations during the June 3 election, held at the National Assembly on Friday. [Yonhap]
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok poses for a photo with attendees at a national parents' forum on voting rights violations during the June 3 election, held at the National Assembly on Friday. [Yonhap]

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok said Friday that President Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party of Korea and the National Election Commission form "in effect a single body — a massive cartel corroding South Korea's democracy."

Jang made the remarks at a national parents' forum on voting rights violations during the June 3 election, co-hosted by the party's Central Women's Committee and its Mom-Friendly Special Committee at the National Assembly. "President Lee Jae Myung and the Democratic Party are thoroughly shielding an irresponsible and arrogant election commission," he said.

He said the Democratic Party had obstructed the National Assembly's fact-finding efforts and blocked a Board of Audit and Inspection audit when the commission's hiring irregularities came to light. "It is also the Democratic Party that is trying to turn the commission into an all-powerful institution by pushing a preposterous law that would impose a 10-year prison sentence for criticizing it," he said.

Turning to the Democratic Party's proposal for a special prosecutor act targeting the election commission, Jang said the party had pledged to accept a special prosecutor but was now insisting on one recommended by a third party. "They are also trying to limit the scope of the investigation to this year's local elections alone," he said. "No truth can be properly uncovered that way."

He said the special prosecutor must be free to investigate the president, the Democratic Party and past elections without restriction. "For that to happen, the People Power Party must be the one to recommend the special prosecutor," he said. "The PPP will do its utmost to create a 'truly people's special prosecutor.'"

Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, chairman of the National Assembly special committee investigating the ballot shortage during the election, said it made no sense for an interested party to recommend a special prosecutor. "It is right that the opposition party — which has no stake in the outcome — recommends the special prosecutor," he said. "We will absolutely secure an opposition-recommended special prosecutor."

Supreme Council member Kim Min-su addressed the parents in attendance, saying their hearts were not in politics but in building a country where their children could pursue their dreams. "I ask that the people stand up together with us," he said.

The forum was attended by Jang, Kim and other party leaders including Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong, floor policy deputy leader Kim Mi-ae and party leader chief of staff Park Jun-tae, as well as Rep. Yoon, four-term lawmaker Park Dae-chul — chairman of the party's special committee on election commission reform — Reps. Kim Min-jeon and Seo Myeong-ok, and about 20 parents.


husn7@heraldcorp.com