Jang Dong-hyeok of the People Power Party on the 27th said, "President Lee Jae-myung should not hide behind aides but call President Trump," adding, "The presidency is a position of responsibility."
In a Facebook post the same day, Jang said, "A childish prime minister who is happy just to get a hotline number, a president who only gets angry while blaming legislation in a National Assembly they control. In the meantime, a 25% tariff bomb has hit the public's wallets," adding, "The presidency is a position of responsibility, and diplomacy is not a show but competence."
It was a response to President Trump writing on his social media, Truth Social, that morning that "the Korean legislature is not fulfilling a transaction with the United States," and that he would raise tariffs on Korean-made cars and other goods from 15% to 25%.
Jang went on an eight-day hunger strike demanding the introduction of a special counsel probe into alleged bribes for nominations involving the Unification Church and the Democratic Party, and was taken to a hospital on the 22nd. Five days later, Jang posted on Facebook, effectively resuming political activities.
Jang is expected to return to party duties as early as on the 28th.