Jang Dong-hyuk, holding a Taegeukgi, calls for a by-election at a protest site; criticism within the People Power Party says, "He should address the defeat first"

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[Financial News] Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, was caught online visiting a protest site calling for a by-election over the "June 3 local election ballot shortage incident."
Jang attended the "ballot-counting site blockade protest" held on the 7th in front of the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Olympic Park in Seoul's Songpa District. Wearing a black cap and black mask, he held a Taegeukgi with the word "by-election" written on it, chanted slogans with protesters, sang the national anthem, and waved the flag.
Before attending the protest, Jang also announced his visit to the site on his social network service (SNS).
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A conservative YouTube channel also showed him sitting among people on the stairs in front of Exit 1-2 of the ballot-counting site, talking with his entourage. In an interview with a conservative YouTuber, he also responded, "Thank you," to words of support for his call for a by-election and the abolition of the early voting system.
That same day, Jang wrote on Facebook, "Olympic Park has already become a sacred place of democracy," and added, "There is only one slogan: by-election." He also called for a nationwide by-election and the abolition of early voting at a press conference at The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
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Within the People Power Party, criticism is growing over Jang's actions.
Six-term lawmaker Cho Kyoung-tae appeared on MBC Radio on the 8th and said, "The ballot shortage incident should not become a shield that covers up responsibility for the election defeat." He added, "More important than the by-election issue is clarifying his own position first."
Lawmaker Kim Do-eup also urged Jang to make a decision on CBS Radio, saying, "It is standard political responsibility for the leadership that lost an election to state its position."
Lawmaker Yoo Eui-dong also said on KBS Radio, "It is hard to see the demand for a nationwide by-election as the position of the entire party." He added, "Rather than linking the leadership's future to the call for a by-election, the party needs deliberation about its future."
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter