On the 9th, Daejang-dong Trial
"Aware of Political Prosecution's Intent to Bind Hands and Feet, but Fulfilling Trial Attendance Duty"
"A Regime That Completely Disregards the People... Please Prevent the Majority"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appealed for support on the 9th, the day before the April 10 general election, as he appeared in court, saying, "Please make sure to vote and prevent the political forces that have betrayed the people from securing a majority of seats."
Before entering the trial held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 33 (Chief Judge Kim Dong-hyun) in the morning regarding charges of breach of trust and bribery related to Daejang-dong, Seongnam FC, and Baekhyeon-dong, Lee told reporters, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has regressed the country in all aspects including the economy, livelihood, diplomacy, security, and democracy."
Lee took out a prepared statement and said, "I will not speak about the injustice and unfairness I have endured for two years, nor the ruthlessness of the political prosecution that dragged even my wife into this, because no matter how great the pain and inconvenience I am experiencing, it cannot compare to the suffering the people are going through."
He said, "South Korea, once one of the world's top 10 economies and among the top 5 countries with trade surpluses, has fallen to a trade deficit country worse off than North Korea," adding, "Prices of apples, bananas, and persimmons have soared to the top, and bank interest rates have nearly doubled or tripled." He continued, "They fail to control prices but only crack down on political opponents and opposition forces," criticizing, "Ahead of the general election, they are issuing fraudulent policies and conducting clearly illegal election interference."
Referring to the Itaewon tragedy and the death of the late Corporal Chae Soo-geun, Lee said, "This regime is ruthlessly obsessed only with concealment," and claimed, "The international community is criticizing the country for becoming a dictatorship because it not only silences voices ('mouth blocking'), suppresses criticism ('knife blocking'), but also engages in 'destruction blocking'."
He also said, "The president, who should lead national unity, is waging ideological wars on the front lines, and with the continuation of oppressive prosecutorial rule, dialogue, compromise, and coexistence have disappeared, and the rule of law, separation of powers, and constitutional order are rapidly collapsing," accusing, "This is a regime that completely despises the people."
He then urged, "In this general election, please never give up your sovereignty and be sure to vote," pleading, "Please prove with your own hands that power that goes against the people can never exist, and no power can defeat the people."
Lee mentioned key electoral districts considered to be closely contested and the names of Democratic Party candidates, saying, "I wanted to visit the ultra-close battlegrounds to appeal for votes and spend every minute and second like gold," adding, "I know that the political prosecution intends to tie my hands and feet, but as a citizen, I decided to fulfill my duty to appear in court." He continued, "Please take on the role of the leader of the main opposition party that I cannot fully perform," and said, "On April 10, we will definitely create a country where the people are the owners," before heading to the courtroom.
The trial ended at 5:52 p.m. after nearly eight hours. Lee is scheduled to attend the party's final rally held at Yongsan Station Plaza in Seoul afterward.
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