People Power Party representative Jang Dong-hyuk called the June 2024 local elections a "judgment of criminals" during a campaign event in Busan [1].
The framing of the election as a moral referendum is intended to consolidate party unity and mobilize voters against the Democratic Party. By positioning the contest as a battle against perceived criminality, the party seeks to create a sharp contrast between its own members and the opposition.
Speaking at the opening ceremony for Busan Mayor candidate Park Heung-joon's campaign office, Jang said party members should unite to secure victory [1]. He specifically targeted the Democratic Party's push for a special prosecutor law regarding the withdrawal of public prosecutions, which he characterized as a move to protect figures such as Lee Jae-myung [1].
"(The special prosecutor law for the withdrawal of public prosecutions) is a terrible thing and I think it is a crazy thing," Jang said. "We are not a party that possesses criminals like Lee Jae-myung. So why should we shrink back?" [1].
The event, which also featured representative Cho Kyoung-tae, experienced moments of disorder as the crowd reacted to the speakers [1]. The People Power Party leadership is using these regional rallies to solidify the narrative that the opposition party is attempting to shield its leaders from legal accountability.
This strategy focuses on the legal challenges facing the Democratic Party as a central campaign pillar for the June 2024 elections [1]. The party leadership believes that emphasizing these legal issues will prevent internal fractures, and drive turnout among conservative voters in key regions like Busan [1].
“"We are not a party that possesses criminals like Lee Jae-myung."”
The People Power Party is shifting its campaign strategy from policy-based competition to a legalistic and moral critique of the opposition. By labeling the election as a 'judgment of criminals,' the party is attempting to nationalize local elections and transform them into a referendum on the integrity of the Democratic Party's leadership.
