Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
Opposition leader Jang Dong-hyeok said Monday he has established a "hotline" with key members of the Republican Party during his recent visit to the United States, rejecting criticism from within and outside his party that the trip may have been fruitless and badly timed.
Jang of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) made the remarks at a press conference held shortly after he returned from a 10-day visit to the U.S.
The trip was widely panned as it took place less than two months before the June 3 local elections and produced a viral photo of what critics said looked like Jang and PPP Supreme Council member Kim Min-soo posing for a photo shoot in front of the Capitol building in Washington.
"I met and listened to the opinions of many people in the U.S. government, Congress and the American establishment, and fully conveyed our position as well," Jang said during the press conference at the National Assembly, declining to name the people.
"I established an actual hotline with key members of the U.S. Republican Party and created a foundation of trust to hold up the shaky Korea-U.S. alliance," he added.
Jang said he visited the U.S. for the sake of the local elections, as he believes the opposition party should be judged by voters for the efforts it makes to repair ties with the U.S. at a time when the Lee Jae Myung administration is continuously causing "problems" in the relationship.
"Going forward, if a situation arises where the People Power Party's role is needed, I will personally communicate with the U.S. and lead the resolution of the problem," he said.
On the viral photo, Jang said it was taken in the short time after they completed their itinerary at Congress and before they began their next engagement.
"I hope a single photo that we did not officially disclose does not overshadow all the achievements of my U.S. trip," he said.
Source: Korea Times News
