Democratic Party of Korea acting leader Han Byung-do and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok (right) speak at the 81st Liberation Day ceremony held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Saturday, attended by President Lee Jae Myung and his wife. [Yonhap]
Democratic Party of Korea acting leader Han Byung-do and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok (right) speak at the 81st Liberation Day ceremony held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Saturday, attended by President Lee Jae Myung and his wife. [Yonhap]

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok returned to Olympic Park in Jamsil on Saturday evening, Liberation Day, continuing his hard-right street campaign outside the National Assembly.

Jang arrived wearing a necklace bearing the likeness of former President Syngman Rhee. After marching while waving a large Taegukgi flag, he took the microphone and read aloud a speech Rhee delivered on Aug. 15, 1948, at the ceremony proclaiming the establishment of the South Korean government and marking the third anniversary of liberation.

"He already declared that the people's right to vote is the foundation of the Republic of Korea and its constitution," Jang said of Rhee. "So are our freedoms safe now? Is our right to vote safe? Is a free Republic of Korea safe?"

He then added, "Our ancestors gave their lives to drive out dictatorship and build democracy, yet President Lee Jae Myung is pushing for constitutional reform to extend dictatorship in South Korea."

Jang pressed further, saying, "Should we not, gathered here again on Liberation Day, defend our right to vote and stop Lee Jae Myung's dictatorship? Should we not stop Lee Jae Myung's term-extension constitutional reform — his bid to save himself by abandoning South Korea?"

Rally participants carrying Taegukgi and American flags responded with chants including "fraudulent election — re-election — same-day voting — manual recount" and calls for President Lee's impeachment.

Sitting PPP lawmakers and local party chapter heads outside the Assembly also attended, adding momentum to the rally.

Chief spokesperson Park Chung-kwon served as emcee as more than 10 lawmakers stood and greeted the crowd — including five-term Rep. Jo Bae-suk, four-term Rep. Park Dae-chul, and Reps. Jeong Hee-yong, Lee In-seon, Park Sung-min, Kang Myeong-gu, Gu Ja-geun, Shin Dong-wook, Park Jun-tae, Kim Jang-gyeom, Lee Jin-suk, Kim Min-jeon, Choi Bo-yun, Kim Dae-sik, Jo Seung-hwan and Yun Yong-geun. Supreme council members Jo Gwang-han and Kim Min-su were also present.

Jang had previously made repeated appearances at the Olympic Park rallies after suffrage concerns flared following a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections.

At the time he focused squarely on what he called mismanagement of the elections, but on Saturday he shifted his attention to the constitutional reform issue. The move appeared designed to broaden his agenda and sustain momentum for his street campaign, as a special prosecutor investigation into the National Election Commission — agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties — is expected to get underway soon.

However, criticism of Jang's street activities continues within the party.

Meanwhile, Jang took to Facebook on Saturday to criticize President Lee's Liberation Day address marking the 81st anniversary, calling it "a declaration of abandonment of the people." He said Lee "invoked the phrase 'ladder of opportunity' for youth in words, but offered not a single concrete measure or vision," and called the speech "a declaration of abandonment of youth."

On security, Jang also criticized Lee for saying South Korea and North Korea should set aside "mutual hostile intent" while making no mention of the North's nuclear development or missile tests. "When have we ever threatened North Korea?" he said. "'Preemptive and sustained peace measures' ultimately means only we disarm ourselves."


jiyun@heraldcorp.com