People Power Party (PPP) Representative Jang Dong-hyuk speaks at the 'June 3rd Suffrage Deprivation Incident Incheon Youth & College Student Roundtable' held at the Incheon City Party headquarters in Namdong-gu, Incheon, on the 8th. [Yonhap News]

People Power Party Representative Jang Dong-hyuk, who has been calling for a full rerun of the June 3rd local elections, met with young party members in Incheon on the 8th to reiterate the necessity of a new election.

Having consistently participated in rallies at Olympic Park in Jamsil, he also revealed plans to expand his outreach to young people, beginning in Incheon and moving on to the Yeongnam and Honam regions.

Representative Jang attended the 'June 3rd Suffrage Deprivation Incident Incheon & Metropolitan Area Youth Organization Roundtable' held at the Incheon City Party headquarters, which marked his first external engagement since returning to party duties this afternoon.

Regarding a special counsel probe into the National Election Commission (NEC) concerning the ballot shortage incident, he directly criticized the situation, stating, "The Democratic Party is suggesting a special counsel appointed by a third party. Yet, who could trust a special counsel led by President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party—the very culprits who created an irresponsible, incompetent, and arrogant NEC?"

He continued, "If all the truth is uncovered through a special counsel, it will be revealed that the core of this incident lies at the very top with President Lee, with the Democratic Party as accomplices. For this reason, the People Power Party must push for this special counsel."

Furthermore, he noted, "Once the reality of the suffrage deprivation incident is revealed through the special counsel, a rerun of the election must naturally follow. We must also abolish early voting, which the public does not trust. We need to transition to a French-style, same-day voting and manual counting system."

He added, "Discussions regarding manual recounts are currently taking place in the special parliamentary investigation committee. We must first ensure that the ballots have not been contaminated or tampered with before proceeding with manual recounts."

He vehemently criticized the NEC as an "organization beyond remodeling," arguing that "we must push for reforms that completely tear it down and rebuild it from scratch."

He particularly stated, "I have been thinking that a new beginning is necessary so that the voices raised at Olympic Park do not remain only there but spread throughout the country. Starting with Incheon today, I intend to visit Busan, Gwangju, and eventually Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province."

Four-term lawmaker Park Dae-chul, chairman of the party's special committee on election management reform, promised, "Yesterday, the 'gag law' (amended Information and Communications Network Act) was implemented, and on June 3rd, an absurd situation occurred where the right to vote was stifled. I will devote all my efforts to building an election system that both you, the youth, and the public can agree upon."

Young party members who participated as panelists voiced their support for Representative Jang, addressing both the NEC incident and internal party issues.

Former Incheon City Council member Shin Seong-yeong requested, "The party is suffering due to internal chatter representing independent Han Dong-hoon. Just as a blade becomes stronger when tempered, this leadership will protect the liberal democracy of the Republic of Korea. Please strengthen the party's authority."

Office worker Kang Hyung-gyu asked, "I would like to ask everyone criticizing Representative Jang: are you more afraid of a drop in party approval ratings than the reality that the public's precious votes were discarded on the street?" Meanwhile, young party member Moon Geum-mi stated, "The only way to correct an election stained with incompetence and suspicion is a rerun."

Representative Jang listened attentively, taking meticulous notes, and responded, "You requested that the party's authority be strengthened; I will say nothing else. I believe that moving toward a party centered on its members is the beginning of the reconstruction of conservatism."

Immediately following the roundtable, he attended a youth rally held at Rodeo Plaza in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon.

Meanwhile, the roundtable proceeded in the absence of all lawmakers with constituencies in Incheon, including Yoon Sang-hyun and Bae Joon-young.

In their place, key party officials including Secretary-General Jung Hee-yong, Deputy Secretary-General for Organization Kang Myeong-gu, Chief Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon, Senior Deputy Floor Spokesperson Kim Tae-kyu, and Supreme Council members Shin Dong-wook, Cho Gwang-han, and Kim Min-soo, as well as lawmakers Seo Ji-young, Lee Dal-hee, and Kim Min-jeon, were in attendance.

Before the event, Representative Jang called out each of their names and said, "This is the first time since I became party leader that I have called out the names of every lawmaker joining me at an event. I am very grateful."

People Power Party (PPP) Representative Jang Dong-hyuk speaks at the 'June 3rd Suffrage Deprivation Incident Incheon Youth & College Student Roundtable' held at the Incheon City Party headquarters in Namdong-gu, Incheon, on the 8th. [Yonhap News]