Leaders of both ruling, opposition parties face mounting calls to resign - The Korea Times

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chair Jung Chung-rae, left, and main opposition People Power Party Chair Jang Dong-hyeok attend a ceremony marking the 71st Memorial Day at Seoul National Cemetery in Seoul, June 6. Yonhap

Leaders of two major political parties are facing growing pressure to step down following disappointing results in last week’s local elections, as internal criticism spills into the open ahead of party conventions scheduled for August.

Within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), party chair Jung Chung-rae has come under fire from lawmakers who argue that the leadership should take responsibility for the party’s failure to win key battleground races despite retaining a nationwide advantage.

During a closed-door general meeting Thursday, Rep. Jang Chul-min publicly called on Jung to resign.

“If we truly want unity and to consolidate party strength after the convention, Jung should resign even today,” Jang said, describing the party’s defeat in the Seoul mayoral race as a “crushing loss both politically and emotionally.”