Minju: "Yoon Government Destroys Democracy... Must Apologize and Cabinet Resign Entirely"

"Power is fleeting... We must not forget the serious warning"
Lee mocks hunger strike, saying "Ruling party lacks ethical awareness"

The Democratic Party of Korea continued its full-scale offensive against the government and ruling party on the 8th. Representative Lee Jae-myung called on the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to issue a public apology and for the entire cabinet to resign, accusing them of destroying democracy and the livelihood of the people. Floor leader Park Kwang-on raised his voice in criticism, pointing out the ruling party's behavior mocking Lee Jae-myung's hunger strike.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is presiding over the Supreme Council meeting held at the hunger strike protest tent in front of the National Assembly on the 8th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the morning of the 9th day of his hunger strike, Representative Lee Jae-myung urged at the Supreme Council meeting, "The president must apologize to the people for destroying democracy, livelihoods, and peace on the Korean Peninsula, and completely change the direction of state affairs so far," adding, "The cabinet, including the prime minister, must resign en masse and take responsibility for the situation while seeking a new direction."

He strongly criticized, "Looking at the attitude of government officials such as the prime minister, ministers, and vice ministers toward the National Assembly during the government questioning process, it seems that the president's will or instructions to fight against the people have been properly enforced," and asked, "Can there be such ministers who provoke or oppress and sneer at lawmakers who question on behalf of the people?"

He continued, "Even if power seems strong and eternal, in hindsight, it is always temporary. Those in power who seem to pierce the sky and cover the world eventually disappear," emphasizing, "Not forgetting the solemn warning that history and the people will judge is the way to avoid misfortune."

Representative Lee also added, "Now politics has disappeared and only war remains, and sovereignty seems to have shifted not to the people but to the president and the ruling party," and said, "The military regime's guns have been replaced by warrants, and the subject has changed from soldiers to prosecutors."

Floor leader Park Kwang-on pointed out the ruling party's behavior mocking Lee Jae-myung's hunger strike at the meeting, asking, "To the People Power Party: Is it the ethical consciousness of a responsible ruling party to criticize and mock the political opponent's hunger strike with harsh language without even minimal consideration or courtesy?"

Park emphasized, "It must be uncomfortable for the president and People Power Party that the leader of the main opposition party has reached the point of a hunger strike," adding, "Resolving that discomfort is politics. It is also a human duty before politics."

He also commented on Representative Lee's prosecution investigation, saying, "I hope People Power Party refrains from using this matter again as a political offensive," and added, "I hope they acknowledge the fact that the leader of the main opposition party has actively agreed to cooperate with the prosecution investigation even during the hunger strike."

Targeting the prosecution, Floor leader Park said, "The prosecution should conduct a fair investigation based solely on objective evidence and legal principles in this matter watched by the entire nation," but pointed out, "However, signs of coercive investigation around the case are truly worrisome."