People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk called on supporters to rally behind the party one day before the June 3 local elections, saying, "Now is the time for change."
Jang issued a public appeal at the party's central headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on Tuesday, declaring, "We must now stop the tyranny of Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party."
"This election will determine my life and the future of the Republic of Korea," Jang said. "Everything will be decided by your single vote tomorrow."
He went on to criticize the president, saying, "Yesterday, even after the Daejeon explosion accident occurred, Lee Jae-myung posted messages on social media attacking the press." Jang added, "Even at the moment when workers were engulfed in flames and firefighters were battling the blaze, he was fighting with the media over what he claimed were inaccurate stock market reports."
"This is because nothing—neither the safety of the people nor the lives of workers—matters more to Lee Jae-myung than the stock market," Jang said. "A KOSPI of 8,000 is the only shield Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party have to cover up their failures in governance."
Jang also said, "The real situation our people face is a hellish triple burden of high exchange rates, high prices, and high interest rates that is heavily weighing down our economy and people's livelihoods." He criticized the ruling bloc, saying, "But Lee Jae-myung, the government, and the Democratic Party are not looking after the difficult lives of the people."
"They keep repeating the utterly arrogant remark that if you've made money in stocks, you should vote for the Democratic Party," he said. "We must now stop Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party's reckless destruction of the economy and their tyranny that is collapsing people's livelihoods."
He added, "We can only bring change by voting. We must never give up our vote. Please all come out and lend your strength to Ballot No. 2, the People Power Party."
