People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok speaks at a rally Wednesday in front of the National Election Commission office in Seo-gu, Gwangju, organized by a civic group of Gwangju residents, youth and students demanding the dissolution of the commission and a re-election. [Yonhap]
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok speaks at a rally Wednesday in front of the National Election Commission office in Seo-gu, Gwangju, organized by a civic group of Gwangju residents, youth and students demanding the dissolution of the commission and a re-election. [Yonhap]

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok attended a rally Wednesday in front of the National Election Commission office in Seo-gu, Gwangju, organized by a civic group demanding the commission's dissolution and a re-election. He said calling for a new vote after voting rights were violated "is an entirely justified cry," and questioned why "the Lee Jae Myung administration and the Democratic Party of Korea will not listen to that voice."

Jang arrived wearing a black cap and white shirt, accompanied by Park Jun-tae, chief of staff to the party leader, and five-term lawmaker Jo Bae-sook, chair of the party's North Jeolla Province chapter. At the rally, he held a sign reading "Stealing ballots is the real insurrection — Lee Jae Myung is the insurrection ringleader." After delivering his remarks, he led the crowd in chants including "Re-election for fraudulent vote — hand-count ballots on election day."

"Even many lawmakers within the People Power Party are not listening to that voice. Even the PPP, the main opposition party, has failed to fully embrace it," Jang said. "I am ashamed of the People Power Party, and I am ashamed of myself as its leader."

He went on to say, "If the reason I — a presiding judge at the Gwangju District Court — was drawn into politics, and the reason a figure with barely one and a half terms was made leader of the People Power Party, is that I must devote everything I have to protecting the people's right to vote, then I intend to stake my entire political career on protecting every precious vote cast by the people."

Addressing rally participants, he called them "the June 3 civic revolutionary army defending South Korea's voting rights and democracy" for raising their voices in answer to what he described as a historic and generational calling, and urged them to join a rally at Olympic Park on Friday.

"To those who still call the citizens at Olympic Park protesters, and to those who suggest people are simply there to have a good time — I hope we can show them together what our passion is and what kind of South Korea we are worried about," Jang said.

Lawmaker Jo Bae-sook said, "Something has happened here that would not happen even in Africa. It is truly shameful." She added, "If we fight together, we will surely win, and I believe a proper electoral system will be achieved and genuine democracy will follow."


mp1256@heraldcorp.com