South Korean Opposition Leader Jang Dong-hyeok Criticizes Government's Pro-China Stance, Calls for Alignment with US and Japan
Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of South Korea's opposition People Power Party, criticized the government's leaning towards China and called for stronger alignment with the United States and Japan. He specifically questioned the government's ambiguous stance on the Taiwan issue, arguing that it should adopt a position consistent with the US and Japan.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 18:25
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 18:31 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 22:03 (3h 31m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Yang Chi-fang, Seoul, 8th) Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of South Korea's opposition People Power Party, met with foreign media today. When asked about Japan's clear stance on a "Taiwan contingency," Jang Dong-hyeok adopted a conservative posture, avoiding the words "Taiwan," but criticized the government's focus on China and called on the ruling party to adopt a stance consistent with the US and Japan.
Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, took the opportunity to attend a foreign media association event in Seoul today to answer questions from foreign media. A foreign media outlet asked what stance South Korea should take if China and Taiwan were to engage in armed conflict, given that the current Japanese government's position is to take countermeasures.
Regarding the question about Taiwan, Jang Dong-hyeok appeared relatively conservative, avoiding the words "Taiwan." He admitted, "This is a very sensitive issue, but I will answer from a principled perspective." Jang Dong-hyeok said: "Alliance relationships are built on mutual trust. Considering the security situation of the Republic of Korea, I believe that Korea-US-Japan cooperation is more important than anything else and absolutely necessary."
Jang Dong-hyeok directly stated that on issues such as the recent Middle East conflict and "the question just asked" (referring to the Taiwan issue), Japan has shown a clearer stance than South Korea. He also criticized: "Conversely, the South Korean government either does not express any position on this, or shows an ambiguous attitude, and even on the issue just mentioned (the Taiwan issue), when (President Lee Jae-myung) visited China, he showed a completely different stance from the US and Japan."
Jang Dong-hyeok mentioned that South Korea has failed to show the clear stance requested by the United States, and sometimes even takes different positions. "In this situation, in the context of Korea-US-Japan cooperation, or at a time when we need the help of Japan and the United States, whether cooperation can still be firmly maintained, I believe the Lee Jae-myung government should now think more deeply."
If the South Korean government must take a clear stance and make a clear choice between the two, Jang Dong-hyeok emphasized, "My personal view is that it is necessary to adopt a stance that maintains consistency with the US and Japan and follows the same line."
● Jang Dong-hyeok criticizes ruling party for distancing from US, leaning towards China
Jang Dong-hyeok criticized that North Korea is further strengthening its relations with China and Russia, while the Lee Jae-myung government (ruling Democratic Party of Korea) adopts a low posture towards North Korea and further leans towards China. "As a result, the connection in Korea-US relations is inevitably weakened, and there will inevitably be more distance than before."
As a conservative party, the People Power Party, Jang Dong-hyeok pointed out that regarding relations with China, it has always advocated for establishing reciprocal relations based on "reciprocity," whether it is immigration issues, real estate, or voting rights. "We have always demanded that issues with China should be resolved based on the basic principles of international law and reciprocity, but the Lee Jae-myung government has never put forward any position on this."
● Responding to the 'two-state hostile theory,' Jang Dong-hyeok: North Korea cannot be recognized as a state
Regarding the North Korean issue, Jang Dong-hyeok said: "The Republic of Korea is still confronting nuclear-armed and missile-armed North Korea across the armistice line, and behind North Korea are two powerful military powers, China and Russia." He mentioned that conservative governments tend to value the Korea-US alliance and traditional allies, and take "peace through strength" as the basis of their North Korea policy.
Jang Dong-hyeok criticized that progressive governments (Democratic Party of Korea) pursue a conciliatory North Korea policy, often keeping a certain distance from the United States. "In the past, no government has ever been hostile to the liberal camp or denied the Korea-US alliance itself." He mentioned that during his recent visit to the United States, he personally confirmed that the US government and Congress are deeply concerned about the current Korea-US relations.
Jang Dong-hyeok emphasized that according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, the land north of the armistice line currently controlled by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is all territory of the Republic of Korea. "According to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, North Korea can never be recognized as a state." He criticized that after Kim Jong Un recently proposed the "two-state hostile theory," South Korea's Ministry of Unification continued to issue statements that seemed to echo it, and even the Minister of Unification used the term "Democratic People's Republic of Korea." (Edited by Tang Sheng-yang) 1150508
Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download CNA's "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
(Central News Agency reporter Yang Chi-fang, Seoul, 8th) Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of South Korea's opposition People Power Party, met with foreign media today. When asked about Japan's clear stance on a "Taiwan contingency," Jang Dong-hyeok adopted a conservative posture, avoiding the words "Taiwan," but criticized the government's focus on China and called on the ruling party to adopt a stance consistent with the US and Japan.
Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, took the opportunity to attend a foreign media association event in Seoul today to answer questions from foreign media. A foreign media outlet asked what stance South Korea should take if China and Taiwan were to engage in armed conflict, given that the current Japanese government's position is to take countermeasures.
Regarding the question about Taiwan, Jang Dong-hyeok appeared relatively conservative, avoiding the words "Taiwan." He admitted, "This is a very sensitive issue, but I will answer from a principled perspective." Jang Dong-hyeok said: "Alliance relationships are built on mutual trust. Considering the security situation of the Republic of Korea, I believe that Korea-US-Japan cooperation is more important than anything else and absolutely necessary."
Jang Dong-hyeok directly stated that on issues such as the recent Middle East conflict and "the question just asked" (referring to the Taiwan issue), Japan has shown a clearer stance than South Korea. He also criticized: "Conversely, the South Korean government either does not express any position on this, or shows an ambiguous attitude, and even on the issue just mentioned (the Taiwan issue), when (President Lee Jae-myung) visited China, he showed a completely different stance from the US and Japan."
Jang Dong-hyeok mentioned that South Korea has failed to show the clear stance requested by the United States, and sometimes even takes different positions. "In this situation, in the context of Korea-US-Japan cooperation, or at a time when we need the help of Japan and the United States, whether cooperation can still be firmly maintained, I believe the Lee Jae-myung government should now think more deeply."
If the South Korean government must take a clear stance and make a clear choice between the two, Jang Dong-hyeok emphasized, "My personal view is that it is necessary to adopt a stance that maintains consistency with the US and Japan and follows the same line."
● Jang Dong-hyeok criticizes ruling party for distancing from US, leaning towards China
Jang Dong-hyeok criticized that North Korea is further strengthening its relations with China and Russia, while the Lee Jae-myung government (ruling Democratic Party of Korea) adopts a low posture towards North Korea and further leans towards China. "As a result, the connection in Korea-US relations is inevitably weakened, and there will inevitably be more distance than before."
As a conservative party, the People Power Party, Jang Dong-hyeok pointed out that regarding relations with China, it has always advocated for establishing reciprocal relations based on "reciprocity," whether it is immigration issues, real estate, or voting rights. "We have always demanded that issues with China should be resolved based on the basic principles of international law and reciprocity, but the Lee Jae-myung government has never put forward any position on this."
● Responding to the 'two-state hostile theory,' Jang Dong-hyeok: North Korea cannot be recognized as a state
Regarding the North Korean issue, Jang Dong-hyeok said: "The Republic of Korea is still confronting nuclear-armed and missile-armed North Korea across the armistice line, and behind North Korea are two powerful military powers, China and Russia." He mentioned that conservative governments tend to value the Korea-US alliance and traditional allies, and take "peace through strength" as the basis of their North Korea policy.
Jang Dong-hyeok criticized that progressive governments (Democratic Party of Korea) pursue a conciliatory North Korea policy, often keeping a certain distance from the United States. "In the past, no government has ever been hostile to the liberal camp or denied the Korea-US alliance itself." He mentioned that during his recent visit to the United States, he personally confirmed that the US government and Congress are deeply concerned about the current Korea-US relations.
Jang Dong-hyeok emphasized that according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, the land north of the armistice line currently controlled by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is all territory of the Republic of Korea. "According to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, North Korea can never be recognized as a state." He criticized that after Kim Jong Un recently proposed the "two-state hostile theory," South Korea's Ministry of Unification continued to issue statements that seemed to echo it, and even the Minister of Unification used the term "Democratic People's Republic of Korea." (Edited by Tang Sheng-yang) 1150508
Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download CNA's "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.