Jang Dong-hyuk Sparks Fresh Election Fight at Seoul Rally

Jang Dong-hyuk sparked a fresh election fight at a Seoul rally on August 15. He told supporters that a special counsel could lead to a new presidential election.

The rally was held at Olympic Park during South Korea's Liberation Day celebrations. Around 20 sitting lawmakers from the People Power Party joined the event.

Organizers said supporters from 59 local party organizations attended the rally. They also said citizens and party members traveled from across South Korea.

Asia Today reporters estimated the crowd at more than 4,000 people. Party leaders claimed the turnout reached as many as 50,000 people.

Jang Calls for New Election After Special Counsel Probe

Jang said the special counsel investigation would uncover the truth about election-related allegations. “The special counsel will uncover the truth and we will go to a new election,” he told supporters. He also called August 15, 2026, a potential “second founding day” for South Korea.

The rally focused heavily on voting rights and alleged problems during the June 3 local elections. Several polling stations faced ballot-paper shortages during the elections. South Korea's National Election Commission acknowledged the shortages. It also apologized for the disruptions.

However, no evidence presented in the report showed that stolen votes changed the result of a presidential election. Jang accused President Lee Jae Myung of authoritarianism during his speech. He also opposed any constitutional amendment that could extend Lee's time in office.

Lee has supported constitutional reform involving a four-year presidential term. The proposal would allow a president to seek another term. It would also transfer some presidential powers to the National Assembly. Lee has said he could accept a shorter term to achieve constitutional reform.

Opposition Lawmakers Join Voting Rights Rally

Several senior People Power Party lawmakers joined Jang at the outdoor demonstration. They included Supreme Council members Shin Dong-wook, Cho Kwang-han and Kim Min-soo. Other lawmakers included Park Dae-chul, Park Chung-kwon and Kim Jang-kyum.

Rep. Joo Jin-woo joined the rally around 3 p.m. Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja was also reported to have attended later. Shin praised Jang and the demonstrators during his address. He said the People Power Party would continue fighting to protect voting rights.

Kim Min-soo urged conservatives to help change the country's political direction by 2030. Four-term lawmaker Park Dae-chul called elections “the flower of democracy.” He demanded public access to the National Election Commission's computer servers.

Demonstrators repeatedly chanted for the servers to be opened. Rep. Lee Jin-sook also highlighted the role of younger South Koreans. She said people in their 20s and 30s were helping defend the country. As the rally grew, Olympic Park filled with demonstrators carrying South Korean flags. Police later restricted vehicle entry because of congestion.

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Key points from the rally:

• Around 20 sitting lawmakers attended the event.
• Organizers said supporters came from 59 local party organizations.
• Crowd estimates ranged from over 4,000 to 50,000.
• Jang demanded a new election after the special counsel investigation.
• He called for changes to South Korea's election system.
• He opposed constitutional changes that could extend Lee's presidency.

Phone Lights Fill Olympic Park

At around 8:20 p.m., Jang moved toward Gate 1-3 with supporters. He led chants demanding a new election and hand counting of Election Day ballots. Jang cited South Korea's constitutional principle that sovereignty belongs to the people. He called for restructuring the National Election Commission. He also demanded an end to early voting and changes to election procedures.

Jang said supporters helped push forward legislation for a special counsel investigation. He also said two candidates had been recommended for the special counsel posts. He wore a wristband reading “WHO STOLE MY VOTE?” during the rally. Later, he asked supporters to switch on their cellphone flashlights. Thousands of lights then illuminated Olympic Park.

Jang described the lights as symbols of freedom and liberal democracy. He warned that the lights could spread across South Korea if Lee pursued a constitutional amendment. He then urged the crowd to chant that such an amendment should lead to impeachment.