People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok on the 1st criticized Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae for sending a warning to Chief Justice Jo Hee-de ahead of the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (bench warrant review) of fellow party member Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, stating, “As usual, they are plotting to mobilize ardent young female supporters of Lee Jae-myung, nicknamed ‘Gaeddal’ (‘daughters of reform’).”
Rep. Jang made this remark during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the same day, adding, “I believe the judiciary will make a just judgment without being swayed by any external pressure.”
Rep. Jang criticized, “The government and ruling party are attempting to create another special counsel that consumes massive taxpayer funds without achieving results. Despite pouring 26.6 billion Korean won in taxpayers’ money and deploying a large-scale workforce, the political special counsel has already been proven a failure due to its fruitless investigation. There has been nothing but media stunts and excessive investigations.”
He continued, “The reason for pushing for an additional special counsel is obvious: to sustain false attacks and political schemes until next year’s local elections. As intimidating the judiciary and rallying for an ‘insurrection’ narrative has not gone as planned, they are again reviving the push for a dedicated ‘insurrection’ trial division. They aim to select judges aligned with the regime’s preferences and conduct a show trial as they wish.”
Rep. Jang warned, “This is an attempt to replicate the actions of the Venezuelan dictatorship in South Korea in 2025. I urge them to remember clearly how Venezuela fell into ruin. The endpoint of political retaliation and dictatorship is self-destruction.”
Regarding the ruling and opposition parties’ agreement on separate taxation of dividend income, Rep. Jang mentioned, “In September, we proposed applying a 9% tax rate for annual dividends of up to 20 million won and a maximum rate of 25% for amounts exceeding 20 million won. While this agreement fell short of our goal, it is expected to significantly contribute to real income growth and the revitalization of capital income.”
He added, “Artificial stimulus measures alone cannot usher in the era of a 5,000-point KOSPI. Instead of blaming youth and citizens for investing abroad, bold policies to bring back citizens and capital, and common-sense economic policies to improve corporate and economic fundamentals are needed.”
Meanwhile, floor leader Song Eon-seog stated regarding the national investigation into the abandonment of the Daejang-dong appeal, “We will not cling to the condition of appointing the opposition’s legal and judiciary committee rapporteur.”
Rep. Song urged, “The Democratic Party should immediately accept a national investigation that can reveal the truth to the public, including suspicions of external pressure to abandon the Daejang-dong appeal and even what they describe as ‘manipulated indictments.’”
Earlier, the People Power Party accepted the Democratic Party’s proposal for a national investigation at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee level but failed to reach an agreement after the Democratic Party rejected three conditions, including the appointment of Rep. Na Kyung-won as the opposition’s committee rapporteur.
