PPP leader boycotts plenary after bill dispute

Feb 13, 2026, 07:58 am

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Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, speaks at the National Assembly on Feb. 12 after deciding not to attend a luncheon meeting with President Lee Jae-myung and party leaders at the presidential office.

A planned luncheon meeting between President Lee Jae-myung and party leaders collapsed Thursday after Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party (PPP), withdrew his attendance just one hour before the event.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly, Jang said, “No matter how I look at it, today’s luncheon seems more appropriate for President Lee and Representative Chung alone.”

“With one hand hiding a knife behind their back and the other extending a handshake, I cannot accept such an offer,” he added.

According to Jang, the proposal for the luncheon was made the previous day. He said that although there were concerns about the timing, format and agenda, he initially agreed to attend in the spirit of discussing livelihoods ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

However, he pointed to the Democratic Party of Korea’s unilateral passage of controversial bills at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, including a measure allowing constitutional complaints against court rulings and another expanding the number of Supreme Court justices.

“Even Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae has stated that the outcome poses a grave problem that could cause enormous harm to the public,” Jang said.

He further criticized Democratic Party leader Chung Cheong-rae, saying, “Perhaps he did not know, but what he prepared as a Lunar New Year gift for President Lee has become a disaster for the people.”

Jang also questioned whether Chung was acting in the president’s interest. “I ask Representative Chung: Are you truly President Lee’s X-man?” he said. “After arranging this luncheon, was the passage of such harmful bills intended to deliberately put the president in a difficult position?”

Responding to Chung’s criticism that skipping the luncheon was “discourteous,” Jang said it was the ruling party’s actions that lacked respect.

“Is it truly respectful to invite the opposition leader to a luncheon and then unilaterally pass legislation that even the Chief Justice has expressed serious concerns about?” he asked. “That goes beyond discourtesy — it is a betrayal of the opposition and its leader.”

The PPP also announced it will not attend Thursday afternoon’s plenary session of the National Assembly.

“I discussed this with our floor leader just moments ago,” Jang said. “As he shares the same position, the People Power Party will likely not attend today’s plenary session.”

#Jang Dong-hyuk #People Power Party #Lee Jae-myung #Democratic Party of Korea #Cheong Wa Dae luncheon