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Jang Dong-hyuk: By-election is Unavoidable; Protests Are 'Citizens' Resistance'
🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Jang Dong-hyuk: By-election is Unavoidable; Protests Are 'Citizens' Resistance'

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A South Korean politician is calling for a "by-election" in Seoul's Songpa District, framing the ongoing protests as a "citizens' resistance movement."
  • The politician argues that ignoring the public's demands will lead to being "swept away" by them.
  • The protests are described as orderly and driven by citizens, not as "riots."

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, stated on June 7 that a "by-election" is now an unavoidable issue, referring to the ongoing demonstrations in Seoul's Songpa District. He emphasized that the public's outcry is growing like a wildfire and that ignoring it will ultimately lead to being "swept away" by the demands.

Now, the 'by-election' has become an unavoidable issue.

— Jang Dong-hyukLeader of the People Power Party, commenting on the ongoing protests in Seoul's Songpa District.

Jang described Olympic Park, the site of the protests, as a "sacred ground of democracy" where political maneuvering has no place. He asserted that those seeking to gain from division are unwelcome. Speaking as a citizen himself, Jang noted the presence of handmade Taegeukgi flags and signs demanding a by-election, with citizens sharing food and drinks sent by supporters nationwide.

He characterized the gathering not as a "riot" but as an orderly "citizens' resistance movement." Jang highlighted the participation of citizens playing the national anthem, young couples with strollers, and a continuous influx of young people. He stressed that they are "citizens," not "protesters," and that they are maintaining self-established order.

If you ignore the current outcry, you will eventually be swept away by it.

— Jang Dong-hyukWarning about the consequences of disregarding public demands.

"If you ignore the current outcry, you will eventually be swept away by it," Jang warned, adding that the call for a by-election and the citizens' voices are converging like "water covering the sea."

It is not a 'riot,' but an orderly 'citizens' resistance movement.'

— Jang Dong-hyukDescribing the nature of the ongoing demonstrations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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