A People Power Party general meeting of lawmakers convened to discuss appeals over the June 3 local elections erupted in discord from the start.
The People Power Party held a general meeting of lawmakers at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 17th. The meeting was intended to discuss appeals over the local elections that faced a ballot paper shortage, but it effectively took on the character of debating the future of leader Jang Dong-hyeok. The People Power Party had planned to hold the meeting on the 18th, when a plenary session is set, but moved it up by a day at the request of "Alternative and Future," a group of junior lawmakers.
Initially, Jang Dong-hyeok was widely expected to skip the meeting, but he arrived before it began. The session, which started with floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik's opening remarks, was immediately switched to closed doors.
But before reporters left, lawmaker Song Seok-jun requested the floor and began speaking on the record. In response to other lawmakers telling him to speak in the closed session, Song said, "We have never disallowed public remarks, but since the 22nd National Assembly began, our party has been mired in poor communication," adding, "Isn't this why our party has come to look its worst?"
Then pro-leadership lawmaker Park Jun-tae retorted, "Go outside and do it." Park serves as chief of staff to Jang.
Presiding lawmaker Park Sang-ung intervened, saying, "Please follow procedure for individual remarks," and the matter subsided for the moment, but it was a scene that underscored the rift within the People Power Party from the outset.
Meanwhile, floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik said in his opening remarks that an opposition-recommended special counsel was needed over the ballot paper shortage. Jeong said, "We once again urge the Democratic Party of Korea to accept the special counsel bill to uncover the truth about the June 3 violation of the people's suffrage, which we submitted as our party line."