Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on June 18. [Photo: Yonhap News]
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, who has been hospitalized since June 18 due to health issues, resumed his online activism on June 23.
In a Facebook post, Jang described the "salmon party" incident as "the most horrific manipulation and incitement in South Korean history," asserting that lawmakers who disrespected witnesses during the national investigation must be held legally accountable.
Earlier, the Suwon District Court sentenced Lee Hwa-young, former Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, to four months in prison for perjury related to the salmon party allegations. The court found him not guilty of violating political funding laws and dismissed charges of abuse of power related to North Korean aid.
Jang characterized the "salmon party coup" as a failure. He listed several unilateral actions taken by the government and ruling party, including the abandonment of appeals in the Daejang-dong case, legislative changes regarding legal distortions, the expansion of the Supreme Court, and the dismantling of the prosecution, stating, "They dared to dream of a judicial coup against public sentiment."
In response to the Democratic Party's claim that Lee's conviction was a "de facto acquittal," Jang remarked, "It was not the court but the people (the jury) who rendered a guilty verdict. Are they defying the people's judgment?" He added, "The destination of the salmon party that Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party envisioned is 'dismissal of charges.' That option is now off the table."
Jang also called for the impeachment of Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho and insisted that the trial related to President Lee Jae-myung should resume. He warned, "The longer the trial of Lee Jae-myung is delayed, the more South Korea will continue to deteriorate. If we do not want to witness a second manipulation and incitement like the salmon party, there is only one answer: the resumption of Lee Jae-myung's trial."
In a Facebook post, Jang described the "salmon party" incident as "the most horrific manipulation and incitement in South Korean history," asserting that lawmakers who disrespected witnesses during the national investigation must be held legally accountable.
Earlier, the Suwon District Court sentenced Lee Hwa-young, former Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, to four months in prison for perjury related to the salmon party allegations. The court found him not guilty of violating political funding laws and dismissed charges of abuse of power related to North Korean aid.
Jang characterized the "salmon party coup" as a failure. He listed several unilateral actions taken by the government and ruling party, including the abandonment of appeals in the Daejang-dong case, legislative changes regarding legal distortions, the expansion of the Supreme Court, and the dismantling of the prosecution, stating, "They dared to dream of a judicial coup against public sentiment."
In response to the Democratic Party's claim that Lee's conviction was a "de facto acquittal," Jang remarked, "It was not the court but the people (the jury) who rendered a guilty verdict. Are they defying the people's judgment?" He added, "The destination of the salmon party that Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party envisioned is 'dismissal of charges.' That option is now off the table."
Jang also called for the impeachment of Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho and insisted that the trial related to President Lee Jae-myung should resume. He warned, "The longer the trial of Lee Jae-myung is delayed, the more South Korea will continue to deteriorate. If we do not want to witness a second manipulation and incitement like the salmon party, there is only one answer: the resumption of Lee Jae-myung's trial."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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