People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, floor leader Song Eon-seok, and other party leadership members are attending a general meeting of lawmakers held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 11th. Yonhap News 

“The President hides behind the scenes when urgent issues need to be resolved, but only shows up to claim credit when results are achieved.”

Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, defined President Lee Jae-myung’s approach to state administration in these terms during an emergency press conference held at the National Assembly on the 11th. He summarized the President’s leadership as one of “evading responsibility and hijacking achievements,” sharpening his critique.

Representative Jang evaluated the past 100 days as “a time when the Democratic Republic has degenerated into a ‘Democratic Party Republic.’” He pointed out that the spirit of the democratic republic, as stated in Article 1 of the Constitution, has been subordinated to the interests of a specific political party. He raised his voice, stating, “State affairs are not focused on the benefit of all citizens but are buried in maintaining the Democratic Party’s power,” adding, “Allowing national identity to become the exclusive property of a single party shakes the very foundations of democracy.”

Furthermore, Representative Jang satirized the distortion of the power structure, declaring, “The separation of powers has collapsed, leaving only a ‘separation of the three centers of influence’ (Sam-tong-bun-rip).” He claimed, “The ‘President of Yongsan’ is President Lee Jae-myung, the ‘President of Yeouido’ is Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae, and the ‘President of Chungjeong-ro’ is broadcaster Kim Ou-joon,” arguing that “this deformed structure where three individuals share power is crumbling South Korean democracy.”

He also leveled strong criticism regarding economic and livelihood issues. Characterizing the current administration as “anti-economy, anti-livelihood, anti-freedom, and anti-democratic,” he pointed out that “the amendment to the Commercial Act, the Yellow Envelope Act, and the amendments to the Broadcasting Act are bills that stifle businesses and shake the fundamental order of liberal democracy.” He further criticized the irresponsibility of their fiscal and economic policies, stating, “If the Moon Jae-in administration opened the era of 1,000 trillion won in national debt, the Lee Jae-myung administration is sprinting toward a 2,000 trillion won republic.”

He emphasized the issue of presidential leadership repeatedly. Noting that “the President did not step forward personally even during the detention of South Koreans at the Hyundai Motor plant in Georgia, USA, which fueled public anxiety,” he urged, “The President must act like a leader, step before the public, provide detailed explanations, and demonstrate a sense of responsibility.”

Representative Jang’s remarks are interpreted as more than mere political sparring; they are a political frame that compresses and presents the structural flaws of the current regime. “Democratic Party Republic” symbolizes the state of the constitutional order; “separation of the three centers” represents the distortion of power; “anti-economy and anti-democratic” points to policy failure; and the “President who only claims credit” symbolizes a leadership vacuum.

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