"The grassroots sentiment is largely like that"
"Park Geun-hye's impeachment also started at the Gwanghwamun candlelight vigil"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, made a statement in an interview with the YouTube channel 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' saying, "If someone acts against the will of the people, they must be removed," which led to criticism from the ruling party suggesting he was hinting at the impeachment of the president. In response, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won clarified, saying, "What Lee said means that public sentiment is the will of heaven," distancing himself from that interpretation.
On the 7th, on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' former Director Park said, "I do not see it as going as far as impeachment.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is meeting and conversing with former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won at the tent in front of the National Assembly main building, where he is on a hunger strike on the 6th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
In the interview conducted on the 5th with YouTube's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' Lee stated, "Ultimately, the players in the ring must truly work for the people, and our citizens watch over them, point out mistakes, and if they act against the national interest and the will of the people, they must be removed. That is democracy." This statement was interpreted by some as implying impeachment, especially in connection with recent remarks about impeachment by Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Yong-min and Seol Hoon.
However, former Director Park said, "I have traveled nationwide giving many lectures, and the grassroots public sentiment often holds such feelings," adding, "'Let's remove them, no exceptions' is a sentiment among the people."
When asked by the host whether this diagnosis was influenced by his affiliation with the Democratic Party, he replied, "It is indeed so. From February to March this year, I gave nearly 40 lectures nationwide. In February and March, about 10% said they wanted removal, but by May, June, and July, over 30% used such expressions," adding, "So I interpret Lee's statement as meaning that public sentiment is the will of heaven, sending a strong warning to President Yoon Seok-youl to do well."
He explained that it was a strong warning rather than a hint at impeachment. When the host pointed out that lawmaker Seol also mentioned impeachment, Park said, "Even if Lawmaker Seol made such remarks in his capacity as a lawmaker, most Democratic Party members and political intellectuals do not seek a suspension of the constitution or anything beyond that," adding, "Therefore, President Yoon must understand this public sentiment."
He continued, "Politics changes according to public sentiment. The impeachment of Park Geun-hye was not initiated by the National Assembly but by the candlelight protests in Gwanghwamun," adding, "Therefore, this is a strong warning to understand public sentiment well, that is how I see it."
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