The Democratic Party of Korea criticized People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, saying it hoped he would "know his place before dreaming of a second term."
Park Sung-joon, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, made the remarks in a written briefing on the 25th, saying, "Jang Dong-hyuk has become the longest-serving party leader since the People Power Party was launched. Congratulations." Park said it was "the result of holding onto his post to the end, even after a crushing defeat in the local elections and amid a barrage of calls for his resignation," adding that it was "something Lee Jun-seok, Kim Gi-hyeon and Han Dong-hoon all failed to achieve."
Turning to Jang's public activities, Park said, "He left parliament empty, picked up drumsticks in the streets, and at drinking sessions hurled insults at the president, the press and lawmakers in his own party — so he moved freely indeed," criticizing that "there was no common sense or dignity to be found, only abusive language and absurdity."
Park also jabbed at Jang, saying "the flexibility of his convictions is remarkable." He said, "Jang Dong-hyuk, who went so far as to launch a special counsel probe into the National Election Commission while crying election fraud, said in a recording that he 'doesn't really like fraud.'" Park added, "He kept supporters standing in the streets for 14 months on a slogan he himself did not believe, so political skill like this is rare."
On Jang's relationship with former President Yoon Suk-yeol, Park said, "He refused to the end demands that he cut ties with Yoon Suk-yeol, and in the recording he called Yoon Suk-yeol 'our president' and lamented, 'if only we had blocked the impeachment.'" Park said Jang was "well deserving of calling himself the 'best of the far right.'"
Park added, "Inside and outside the party, there is talk that Jang Dong-hyuk is aiming for a second term in order to hold the power to nominate candidates," saying, "The longer Jang Dong-hyuk's tenure record grows, the greater the public's anger toward the main opposition party will become."