Missing ARS Voting Calls Trigger Uproar in PPP's Yongin-eul Primary... Supreme Council Members Yang and Jang Clash

A heated exchange broke out between Supreme Council members Yang Hyang-ja and Jang Dong-hyuk over a revote at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th, regarding the 'missing voting calls' incident in the People Power Party's Yongin-eul district organizing committee chair primary.

Voting rights were reportedly infringed upon as automated response (ARS) voting calls failed to reach some 40 responsible party members, including Supreme Council member Yang. There were also claims that the same problem occurred in the Yongin-eul first-round primary and in other regions. "There have been many reports from other regions as well," Yang said.

At the meeting that day, Yang compared the incident to the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, saying, "If we apply the Olympic Park principle — that flawed elections must be redone from scratch — the entire primary should be held again." She asked, "If the Democratic Party now says we have no right to protest over the Olympic Park issue, what are we supposed to say?"

Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk spoke during the closed-door portion of the meeting. According to reports, Jang said in effect: "Are you trying to dig up any mistake the leadership made and use it to shake up the leadership and the party leader — is that what politics is for?" He added, "I said we would investigate every issue raised. If nothing is found and it turns out the leadership had no involvement in the election, will you take responsibility for throwing the party into this mess?"

Supreme Council member Yang, party leader Jang, and Secretary General Chung showed differences in position over the revote at the Supreme Council meeting that day.