On December 3rd, marking the 100th day of his tenure, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, stated regarding the December 3rd martial law incident one year ago, “The martial law on December 3rd was to counteract the parliamentary tyranny.” This statement effectively rejected any apology for the martial law.
On this day, Jang communicated via social media platforms, saying, “The impeachment following martial law has led to ongoing political tragedies in Korea, bringing disappointment and confusion to both citizens and party members.”
He further expressed, “The People Power Party was also not free from responsibility as it failed to fight properly as a united front,” and emphasized, “I fully accept my responsibility as the party leader.”
Jang said, “Now, the year of darkness is passing. The heavy curtain is being lifted, revealing a new path.” He asserted, “We will enforce unconstitutional laws that trample on liberal democracy. We must work with the public to thwart the dismantling of Korea by the Lee Jae-myung administration.”
Furthermore, he proposed, “I will newly design conservative politics,” stating, “What the People Power Party needs to do now is ‘make winning promises.’ We must move forward as one cohesive unit, selecting the right path rather than just one path.”
Jang criticized the Lee Jae-myung administration as a “3-abandonment regime” for neglecting public welfare, the economy, and the citizens, and described it as a “3-negligence regime” that disregards trials, undermines the judiciary, and engages in chaos. He urged that “the citizens and the opposition must stand firm and issue a ‘red card.’ This will be judged in the local elections next year.”
Regarding party innovation, Jang rejected mere formal innovation, insisting, “Innovation is action, not a declaration. The citizens will see the change, not just hear words.” He stressed the urgent need for unity, saying, “Rather than building walls, I will lay them down to create bridges.”
He committed to “starting a new conservative politics that communicates in the language of the citizens, not the language of Yeouido (Korean political establishment), gaining trust and recognition from the public.” He vowed to overcome populist distribution politics that harm proper conservative values with a strong and precise conservative identity.
Jang concluded by affirming, “A team without a fourth hitter cannot win by merely expanding the field. I will be the fourth hitter of conservative politics, possessing identity, conviction, and patriotism.” He confidently added, “In six months, we will achieve the judgment of the Democratic Party and the reconstruction of conservatism.”