Jang Dong-hyuk, chairman of the People Power Party, is embarking on a trip to the U.S. This visit, at the invitation of the International Republican Institute (IRI), marks the first time a leader of a conservative party in South Korea has made such a journey. Jang is set to deliver a speech in English focusing on the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
The People Power Party has announced that Jang will visit Washington, D.C. from April 14 to 16 for a two-night, four-day trip. During his stay, he will address the U.S.-South Korea alliance and meet with key U.S. political figures, including Representative Young Kim, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. He will also engage with other members of both the House and Senate. Jang is scheduled to return on April 17.
Joining Jang on this diplomatic mission are Representative Jo Jeong-hoon, secretary of the Korea-U.S. Congressional Alliance, and Representative Kim Dae-sik, who heads the party leader’s advisory team.
In an exclusive interview with News1, Representative Jo revealed that it plans to discuss inter-Korean relations and U.S.-South Korea ties with American lawmakers and government officials. There are subtle differences in how our government and the U.S. administration view the bilateral relationship, and it aims to address these nuances.
The delegation also intends to meet with Korean-American communities during their visit.
Chief Party Spokesman Park Seong-hoon briefed reporters at the National Assembly, explaining that various American organizations had been inviting Chairman Jang since late last year. This trip, he noted, comes with a well-defined agenda and topics for discussion.
Park emphasized the visit’s significance in three key areas: underscoring the value and importance of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, fostering strategic policy alignment among conservative parties, and strengthening international networks between South Korean conservative opposition parties and the U.S. Republican Party.
This visit provides an opportunity to address concerns raised by some former Donald Trump administration officials, Park stated. He added that it will approach the role as the opposition party from a bipartisan perspective, transcending party lines.
The delegation is expected to engage in wide-ranging discussions, including the Lee Jae Myung administration’s North Korea policy. Park elaborated that given the growing uncertainties surrounding the current administration’s approach to North Korea and the ongoing Middle East conflict, which are impacting the economy, it will explore various solutions.
While acknowledging potential criticism about the opposition leader’s overseas trip ahead of local elections, Park assured that they’re committed to making this a visit that prioritizes the welfare of the citizens and seeks practical solutions for the economy.