Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, speaks at a rally urging the recovery of 740 billion won in state funds from the Daejang-dong group and condemning the prosecution's abandonment of appeals, held in front of the National Assembly Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on November 12. Yonhap News. 

Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, clarified on the 13th that his remark, "We are Hwang Kyo-ahn," made at the rally the previous day condemning the prosecution's decision to drop appeals in the Daejang-dong development corruption case, was not an impromptu statement but a planned one.

Multiple attendees told Yonhap News that Jang made this clarification during a closed-door general meeting of lawmakers held at the National Assembly on the same day.

Jang reportedly told the lawmakers, "I know there are concerns about the 'We are Hwang Kyo-ahn' remark. However, I do not make such statements spontaneously. I make strategic decisions based on data and the situation."

He also said, "Are we not also subject to special prosecutor investigations? I am not agreeing with the election fraud claims made by former Prime Minister Hwang, but rather offering words of support during a difficult time."

Jang also mentioned the criticism raised within the party following his previous visit to meet former President Yoon Suk-yeol, stating, "I know many were worried then as well. However, in retrospect, our approval ratings did not drop. Therefore, please consider these points instead of just criticizing on broadcast."

He added, "The Democratic Party voices a unified front even while engaging in outrageous acts like abandoning appeals, so would it be beneficial for the party if we publicly express our disagreements on issues like this?"

The previous day, at a rally held at the National Assembly, Jang had criticized the special prosecutor's arrest of former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on charges of seditious conspiracy and incitement, exclaiming, "This is war. We are Hwang Kyo-ahn. Let's unite and fight." This statement drew criticism not only from the ruling party but also from within his own party.

Choi Eun-seok, the senior deputy floor leader, told reporters after the general meeting, "We hope that Representative Jang's remark is interpreted as an expression that the special prosecutor's outrageous crackdown and investigation could happen to any citizen."

Choi added, "The remark was made with the intention of making all citizens recognize the seriousness of this issue and fight against the special prosecutor's outrageous investigation, from the perspective that any one of us, any lawmaker, could become a target of an unreasonable special prosecutor's investigation. There is no other specific meaning."

Yonhap News