Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, attends and speaks at a rally in front of Okryeon Market in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, on the 24th. [Yonhap News]

Jang Dong-hyuk, the Standing Election Campaign Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited Incheon, a 'fiercely contested battlefield' for the June 3rd local elections, on the 24th, strongly pushing the narrative of judging the Lee Jae-myung administration.

In particular, Chairman Jang stated about Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party's candidate for Incheon Mayor and a 'pro-Lee Jae-myung' figure, "He was a nobody who became famous by scraping boogers for Lee Jae-myung. Please completely remove Park Chan-dae, who aims to turn Incheon into the second Daegu-dong, from politics this time."

He further criticized Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party's candidate for the Incheon Yeonsu-gap by-election, saying, "He is a candidate who distributed money envelopes in a party convention, was arrested, and then shamelessly reappeared to engage in politics. He insulted the May 18th incident in Gwangju at a karaoke bar the day before May 18th. If you want to take down Starbucks, shouldn't you start with a boycott and a campaign to defeat Song Young-gil?"

In his speech from the rally vehicle, Chairman Jang said, "It is normal for anyone who commits a crime to be tried, and if their crime is revealed, to go to prison, as stipulated in the constitution. But now that Lee Jae-myung is becoming president, he is saying he will erase his crimes. Can you accept this?"

He then targeted the government and ruling party's offensive against Starbucks, stating, "Now, the president is even dictating what coffee we should drink in the morning. Are the president and ministers coming forward and saying 'Let's not drink this coffee' reminiscent of a communist party? Please stop Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party, who are dividing the people, from acting with impunity."

Chairman Jang also continued his 'public opinion warfare' through social media on this day.

After attending the Buddhist Lent ceremony at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in the morning for Buddha's Birthday, Chairman Jang, who shook hands with President Lee, wrote, "My neck stiffened while listening to Lee Jae-myung's congratulatory speech. He said, 'We need the spirit of consideration and understanding to harmonize and embrace different thoughts.' Who was it that last night labeled Starbucks a 'beast' and this morning posted that they would 'shut down Ilbe'?"

He added, "He spews anger and curses at the public whenever he gets the chance, and while dividing people with his life on the line, he speaks of 'consideration' and 'harmony' with a straight face. Is he suffering from multiple personality disorder?"

The People Power Party also announced customized pledges for each city, county, and district in Incheon and Gangwon provinces, in line with Chairman Jang's rally schedule.

For Incheon, as an international free special city to usher in the era of a third port, they pledged to extend the Seoul Subway Line 5 to Geomdan and Incheon Subway Line 1 to Songdo, attract a top general hospital, and designate the Ganghwa Economic Free Zone.

For Gangwon Province, pledges included the development of the Wonju High-tech Medical Complex and the establishment of a hydrogen cluster production base in Samcheok, the creation of the Chuncheon K-Culture Complex, the development of the Yeongrangho tourist complex in Sokcho, and the promotion of the Pyeongchang-Jeongseon KTX and Pocheon-Cheorwon Expressway construction to expand the metropolitan transportation network.

By Hanmi Ilbo Political Desk