Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of South Korea’s People Power Party (PPP), arrived in Washington, D.C. on the 11th (local time), beginning a five-night, seven-day visit to the United States. The trip was originally scheduled as a shorter four-day visit from the 14th to the 17th (Korea time), but was extended with his departure moved forward by three days.
In a Facebook post on the 12th, Jang announced his departure the previous day, stating:
“I take seriously the current period of division and hardship ahead of the local elections.”
He added: “I have set out for Washington, the front line of defending global freedom,”
and described the upcoming June 3 local elections as “a major front in defending freedom and democracy.”
Chief spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon said that after Jang’s U.S. trip was made public, meeting requests came from various American circles, prompting the earlier departure.
With about 50 days remaining until the local elections and candidate matchups being finalized, it is unusual for the leader of the main opposition party to leave the country and be absent for a week.
Choi defended the trip, saying: “On the contrary, this visit provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with the United States for both the alliance and people’s livelihoods. Livelihood diplomacy and local elections are interconnected.”
He also referenced recent controversy surrounding President Lee Jae-myung’s social media remarks, adding: “Concerns about the Korea–U.S. alliance have arisen due to the international controversy over President Lee’s SNS posts. This visit also serves to reinforce that the alliance remains solid.”
However, the PPP has not disclosed detailed information about Jang’s schedule during the seven-day visit.
So far, confirmed plans include:
- delivering an English speech on Korean Peninsula issues at the International Republican Institute (IRI), a think tank led by former U.S. Republican figures
- meeting with the Korea Caucus in the U.S. Congress
Choi said:
“Due to diplomatic norms, we cannot disclose all informal meetings. Some non-public schedules will be revealed later within possible limits.”
A senior PPP official added that there were unexpectedly many requests from U.S. lawmakers and civil organizations to meet Jang.
However, some within the PPP view the trip as an attempt by Jang—whose political standing has weakened—to avoid domestic challenges.
PPP lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin criticized him on Facebook, saying:
“While Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae is traveling across the country, how can anyone understand a leader who goes to the U.S. because there’s nowhere calling him here?”
A first-term PPP lawmaker commented:
“It seems Jang is trying to use the U.S. visit as a breakthrough, given his unclear role in the local elections.”
There were also rumors in political circles that Jang might meet hardline figures in the U.S., such as Morse Tan, known for promoting election fraud conspiracy theories.
A PPP official dismissed this, stating: “This is completely untrue.”
Posted by Freewhale98