People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok again asked President Lee Jae-myung for a summit meeting. Citing U.S.-China power competition and trade pressure from the Trump administration, Jang said it is "time to discuss together not political strife but diplomacy, security, and people's livelihoods." He urged the immediate withdrawal of the second comprehensive special counsel to be launched by the government and ruling party.
Jang stated accordingly in a speech by the floor leader of a negotiating bloc at the February extraordinary session during the National Assembly plenary meeting on the morning of Feb. 4. In his speech, Jang criticized the current administration's fiscal stance and overall economic policy. He added, "Just having the president and the leader of the No. 1 opposition party sit down face to face can ease much of the public's anxiety."
◇ "We must review 'pragmatic diplomacy'… if the South Korea-U.S. alliance wavers, relations with China also fall into disadvantage"
Jang argued that diplomatic relations should be established with the South Korea-U.S. alliance at the center. He said, "We must review whether President Lee Jae-myung's pragmatic diplomacy is truly pragmatic. Diplomacy that goes to the United States and says 'thank you,' and goes to China and says 'xiexie' cannot be called pragmatic diplomacy," adding, "If the South Korea-U.S. alliance wavers, we will also be at a disadvantage in relations with China. We must dispel U.S. doubts about the Lee Jae-myung administration and actively work to strengthen the alliance."
Referring to tariff pressure under the Donald Trump administration, he criticized that trade issues can expand into diplomacy and security. He said, "The Coupang situation has become a detonator for trade friction beyond a problem for one corporation," adding, "With emotional responses or biased approaches, we cannot protect the national interest."
He continued, "Just last year, Hyundai and Kia had to bear an astronomical tariff expense of 720 billion won while being subject to a 25% tariff," adding, "With clumsy and emotional approaches, neither the national interest nor public safety can be protected. The United States is mobilizing every possible means to protect its own interests."
◇ Calls to withdraw the second comprehensive special counsel… "If the prosecution is dismantled, the public will suffer"
He also called for the withdrawal of the second comprehensive special counsel following the three special counsels (insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, Chae Hae-byeong). He noted that while the ruling party and the government poured massive tax money into the special counsel, investigations into livelihood cases developed holes, saying it is time to stop the "local-election-driven" insurrection narrative.
Jang said, "More than 26 billion won in tax money was injected into the three political special counsels, and a 600-member investigation team, including 120 prosecutors, was formed. For six months they shook down the opposition as if dusting, but there are hardly any newly revealed facts," stressing, "Instead of a second comprehensive special counsel, we should conduct three special counsels: the special counsel on abandoning appeals, the Unification Church gate special counsel, and the nomination bribery special counsel."
Jang again asked President Lee for a summit meeting. He said, "Focusing on livelihood issues, I will convey the public's voice and explain our party's alternatives," adding, "When Lee was the opposition leader, he proposed a summit meeting eight times, likely for the same reason."