Jung Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed strong criticism towards Jang Dong-hyuk from the People Power Party for withdrawing from a scheduled lunch meeting with President Lee Jae-myung. In a post on Facebook, Jung described Jang's behavior as scandalous and disrespectful, particularly noting the last-minute cancellation just before the event was supposed to take place. He emphasized that such actions reflect a lack of courtesy towards the public and the president, stating that the People Power Party's conduct was beyond comprehension.

In addition to Jung, other Democratic Party members joined in the criticism, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the government and the opposition. Han Min-soo, Jung's chief secretary, underscored how the cancellation, which occurred less than an hour before the meeting, undermines the role of the opposition leader. He questioned Jang's commitment to discussion and collaboration, suggesting that the opposition party cannot be seen as a viable partner when it resorts to such political tactics.

The context of this controversy stems from the initial acceptance by Jang of the lunch invitation which had been prompted by previous discussions suggesting a need for bipartisan cooperation. However, as criticism from top party members arose, Jang reversed his decision shortly before the scheduled meeting, leading to the backlash from the Democratic Party and raising questions about the stability and intentions of the opposition party in South Korea's political landscape.