People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk is giving his opening remarks at a press conference for foreign correspondents hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 8th. [National Assembly Photo Journalists Association] 

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, said on the 8th regarding the 12.3 state of emergency martial law, "Personally, one could attribute other political meanings to martial law."

At the press conference for foreign correspondents hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club (SFCC) at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu on the same day, Jang stated, "It is not a legal issue, but one could hold a different perspective on martial law considering the phenomena and outcomes that appeared in Korean society afterward."

Regarding the legal stance on martial law, he said, "I am someone who voted in favor of lifting martial law," adding, "To ask if my legal position on martial law has changed due to impeachment or other phases afterward is based on a fundamentally flawed premise."

He further commented on the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol due to emergency martial law, stating, "Impeachment is not the only way to resolve martial law," and "Even within the party after the martial law, there were discussions about a gradual resignation, but due to internal divisions, the People Power Party itself opened the door to impeachment."

When asked about the true meaning of his statement at a conservative rally in March last year, "There is God's plan even in martial law," he explained, "It is my Christian belief. I believe that God, who has protected the Republic of Korea since its founding, was watching over Korea at that moment as well."

Jang also spoke about the sentiment of centrist voters, a key variable in the 6.3 local elections, saying, "Centrists are those who do not have strong party loyalty or little ideological interest, and are more concerned with what politics can do for them. For such individuals, the policy tools possessed by the ruling party are bound to work favorably."

He emphasized, "To persuade centrists, we will not abandon our party's values, change direction, or be unconditionally dragged in the direction they want. It is necessary to persuade centrists by clearly defining the values and direction of the conservative party and making the policies we are pursuing appear more attractive."

Regarding the reasons for the party's low approval ratings, he said, "It is a condition where the ruling party and presidential approval ratings are bound to be high because it is the early period of the administration," adding, "If the ruling party relies solely on approval ratings and nominates criminals or pursues a special prosecutor to nullify President Lee Jae-myung's crimes, it will ultimately provoke centrist public opinion and return as a major backlash before the local elections."

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk is giving his opening remarks at a press conference hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 8th. [National Assembly Photo Journalists Association] 

Jang criticized the Lee Jae-myung administration's foreign and security policy, stating, "I have considerable concerns," and "It must be corrected as soon as possible."

Jang pointed out, "President Lee refers to the U.S. Forces in Korea as a foreign army and is also hastily pushing for the transition of wartime operational control. Many South Korean citizens worry that President Lee's policy stance might be with the aim of withdrawing U.S. Forces in Korea."

Regarding North-South Korean issues, he targeted Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, stating, "In the past, the South Korean progressive camp considered unification a paramount task, but as soon as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presented the 'two-state theory,' they changed their stance overnight and are now following his position."

He added, "According to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, the land north of the armistice line, ruled by Kim Jong-un, is the territory of the Republic of Korea, and North Korea can never be recognized as a state."

In response to the question of what position South Korea should take if a military conflict breaks out between Taiwan and China, he replied, "It is necessary to adopt a stance aligned with the United States and Japan."