On the 5th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said regarding People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who declared he would ‘hold a vote of all party members if there are demands for a confidence vote or resignation’, while setting as a precondition ‘put your political life on the line’, “I do not think that is the posture of a public official.”

After attending the ‘National Assembly debate on bills related to designating city buses as essential public interest services’ held that day at the National Assembly Members Office Building, Mayor Oh met reporters and, calling leader Jang’s remarks about a confidence vote “truly disappointing,” offered this criticism.

That day at the National Assembly, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok held a press briefing and hit back head-on at demands from the pro-Han camp and from Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon that he step down as party leader, saying, “If anyone, by tomorrow, stakes his or her political life and demands that I be reconfirmed or resign, I will immediately conduct a vote of all party members.”

Jang said, “It is not reasonable to hold the party leader solely politically responsible and to demand resignation or a confidence vote over a decision made by the Supreme Council, which was based on the decisions by the Party Affairs Audit Committee and the Ethics Committee to expel former leader Han,” adding, “Any lawmakers or local government heads making such demands should themselves bear commensurate political responsibility.”

In response, Mayor Oh countered, “The people gave the seats of lawmaker and mayor, and you say to stake those positions to demand a change in the party line? This fully shows the perception of public office held by leader Jang,” and added, “The people will render judgment.”

He continued, “A local election that can check the runaway Lee Jae Myung administration is approaching, and many citizens who want victory in such a grave election, and our party supporters as well, likely share that wish, since only by leading the local elections to victory can we check an arrogant, runaway Democratic Party government.”

Mayor Oh emphasized, “To lead the local elections to victory, how should our party change? Specifically, it must sever ties with former president Yoon Suk Yeol and break with martial law.”

Mayor Oh said, “Only by reflecting on mistakes can we lead the local elections to victory, and many concerned people are asking the party leadership for ‘severing ties with Yoon’, hoping the leadership will adopt that as its line and implement it.”

Mayor Oh added, “I had expected (leader Jang) to give an answer that showed thought on that point, but telling those making such arguments to stake their positions is not the posture of a public official,” again criticizing him.