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People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk speaks during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on November 20. / Yonhap

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk on Thursday strongly criticized the appointment of Park Cheol-woo, head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s anti-corruption bureau, as the new chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.

Jang argued the decision signals that the Lee Jae-myung administration is “testing the public’s patience” and committing “an act of personnel tyranny.”

Speaking at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Jang said the appointment amounted to “a declaration of war on the Korean people,” claiming the administration intends to solidify “a silent cartel protecting the illicit proceeds of the Daejang-dong scandal.”

He accused the government of assigning Park a “mission” to push forward not only with dropping the appeal in the case, but also canceling the indictment altogether.

“What is even more outrageous,” Jang added, “is that instead of commending the 18 senior prosecutors who expressed legitimate opposition, the government is smearing them with absurd accusations and even threatening to report them.”

Jang went on to describe the administration as a “gangster regime,” saying, “If you join the criminal organization, you get a top post; if you resist, they cut off your fingers.”

He also cited internal criticism within the prosecution, noting that some prosecutors lamented that “the personnel authority has rewarded someone who stabbed the investigation team in the back,” adding that the appointment shows “how deeply the administration can damage the prosecution and the national system.”

“The end of a gangster regime is clear,” he said. “The people will wipe it out.”

Separately, Jang addressed the ferry grounding accident near Sinan County the previous day, saying he was relieved that all passengers were safely rescued.

“The safety of our citizens is non-negotiable,” he said, urging the government to conduct a thorough investigation and make all findings public.