People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok on Friday again rejected calls to step down following the party's defeat in the June 3 local elections. Forgoing his official schedule, Jang attended a protest blockading a vote-counting station in Jamsil, pushing for a "full re-election" as he went on the counterattack.
Jang directly rebutted the pressure to resign through a Facebook post that day. Citing poll figures in which responses such as "the People Power Party performed well in the local elections" and "I do not agree that the party leadership bears responsibility for the local election results" came out as dominant, he hit back: "Jang Dong-hyeok's mind victory? Their mind defeat!" This was interpreted as targeting reformist lawmakers such as Lee Sung-kwon and Kim Jae-seop, who have continued to criticize Jang with the "mind victory" label.
As resignation demands erupt within the party regardless of faction, Jang has not carried out his official schedule, continuing only with messages emphasizing a re-election. "Forty-four percent of the public supports a 'full re-election.' In the end, the truth will be revealed," he said. While posting a message cheering on the World Cup national football team, he also spelled out the phrase "Again, the June 3 Election" alongside "Again 2002."
