PPP's Jang calls Democratic Party special prosecutor bill a 'fraud,' vows to prepare for by-election

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok said the special prosecutor bill the Democratic Party is pushing to investigate the National Election Commission is no different from the existing joint investigation unit and amounts to a "fraud special prosecutor." He argued that only a special prosecutor recommended by the PPP can uncover the truth, and that the party must begin thorough preparations now to correct what he called a flawed election and hold a by-election based on the probe's findings.

Jang made the remarks at a forum hosted by the party's youth wing at the National Assembly on Monday, organized to call for the dissolution-level overhaul of the election commission and a by-election over what participants described as the deprivation of voting rights on June 3.

He also said the election commission "needs reconstruction-level reform," adding that the party would "tear it down completely and build a new election commission that the public can trust." He pledged to abolish early voting, which he said has lost public confidence, and to fully reform the electoral system.

Near Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, rallies calling for a by-election have been held for nearly a month following a ballot paper shortage during the election.

Jang said some people call the young protesters a "mob" and are trying to brand citizens as rioters. "The people will judge, and history will judge," he said.

He said citizens are demanding that the election commission be reformed and the electoral system be made trustworthy, and went on to say that it was the public's outcry that led to the acceptance of a special prosecutor on Sunday. "That is why I will call this special prosecutor — which protects voting rights — the people's special prosecutor," he said.

Jang, a former judge, also indicated he would personally argue the party's election complaint and any ensuing litigation.

Rep. Na Kyung-won, who introduced a Public Official Election Act amendment bill to enable a by-election, said the party should revise the election law as soon as the National Assembly is organized. "Even if it takes time, a by-election is possible," she said, adding that a by-election is what would truly restore voting rights and ensure the integrity and completeness of the vote.

Rep. Park Dae-chul, chairman of the party's special committee on election commission reform, said countless citizens — including young people and university students — are demanding the return of what he called stolen voting rights. "Abolishing the early voting system is becoming the mainstream position," he said.

The forum was attended by Jang, Supreme Council member Woo Jae-jun, Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong, and lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyeon, Jo Bae-suk, Park Dae-chul, Na Kyung-won, Lee In-seon, Kim Min-jeon, Kim Jang-gyeom, Park Jun-tae, Seo Cheon-ho and Choi Bo-yun, along with some 50 young people, university students and experts.