Jang Dong-hyeok of the People Power Party went to Washington, D.C., on the 11th, about 50 days before the June 3 local elections. In response, Park Ji-won of the Democratic Party of Korea criticized, saying, "It's the first time I've seen a party leader flee to the United States, where there are no voters."
On the 12th, Jang wrote on Facebook, "Yesterday (the 11th), I departed for Washington, the front line that defends the world's freedom," adding, "I am moving forward because I can never turn away from the Republic of Korea's future."
Jang is said to be visiting Washington, D.C., through the 17th at the invitation of the Republican-aligned nonprofit International Republican Institute (IRI). Jang had initially planned to depart on the 14th, but at the request of the U.S. side, he moved up the schedule and left on the 11th.
In response, Park Ji-won of the Democratic Party wrote on Facebook, "I've seen party leaders seek out voters ahead of elections on this planet, but a party leader fleeing to the United States, where there are no voters, is a first—is this a foreign oddity item?" She also wrote, "A party leader whom no one is inviting, who has nowhere to go, who's being told not to come—maybe planning to apply for a green card in the United States?" She added, "People Power Party candidates who can't even cry at a laughable party leader."