Party leader's signs call for impeachment over alleged scandals

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of South Korea's People Power Party, has employed provocative protest signs to criticize President Lee Jae-myung and Defense Minister An Kyu-baek, drawing controversy.

During a rally at Olympic Park in Seoul on July 16, Jang held a sign stating, "Golf is fun, isn't it? Desertion is justifiable? Let's get hit one by one and go for impeachment." This slogan alluded to allegations surrounding President Lee's alleged golfing during a time when a naval officer went missing near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) and to accusations against Minister An regarding his military service.

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Golf is fun, isn't it? Desertion is justifiable? Let's get hit one by one and go for impeachment.

The People Power Party has raised suspicions that Minister An, during his compulsory military service in 1983, illegally absented himself from duty for seven months before being apprehended and detained for 30 days. The Ministry of National Defense has refuted these claims, labeling them as "clear falsehoods."

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The claim of desertion is a clear falsehood.

Jang also displayed another sign reading, "Tomorrow (the 17th), it's Olgong Day, you know? I'll be waiting there." He had previously designated July 17 as 'Olgong Day' and urged citizens to participate in a protest to block vote-counting stations.

This is not the first time Jang has used attention-grabbing slogans. Previously, he held signs such as "Stealing ballot papers is real treason! Lee Jae-myung is the leader of treason" and "Jae-myung, did you see? Did you hear? Then you must accept the special prosecutor." His signature calligraphy style on the signs has become a recognizable feature of his protests.

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Even if there is harsh rhetoric in politics, isn't it a principle to at least maintain respect for the head of state?

Jang's confrontational approach has faced criticism. Rep. Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party questioned the decorum of addressing the head of state so disrespectfully, while Rep. Kwak Kyu-taek of the People Power Party suggested that even within the party, Jang's language warrants consideration for its lack of dignity. Despite the backlash, Jang continues to employ these tactics in his political activism.

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When a party leader addresses the president by name like that, shouldn't it be considered in terms of dignity within the party?