"Lee, Irresponsible Agitation... Speak with Party Leader Position at Stake"
Jeong Hye-jeon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, is holding a briefing on current issues at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 2nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office on the 2nd responded to the 'martial law preparation suspicion' raised by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stating, "We will firmly respond against the opposition party's manipulation of martial law and disruption of state affairs aimed at paralyzing the government with baseless martial law theories."
Jung Hye-jeon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, said at an afternoon briefing, "Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and Kim Min-seok, Supreme Council member, are repeatedly spreading rumors despite ignoring the Presidential Office's statement that they are generating martial law rumors."
Spokesperson Jung criticized, "While martial law may be on the minds of Democratic Party lawmakers, it is not in ours," adding, "We are appalled that the leader of a legitimate political party in Korea broadcast fabricated rumors live (at the previous day’s ruling-opposition leaders' meeting)."
She further stated, "If there is even the slightest evidence, please present it," and pointed out, "The Constitution obligates the president to preserve the territory, and Korea is a constitutional democratic republic. Yet, by raising suspicions about the obligation to preserve territory through the erasure of Dokdo and defaming the president who protects liberal democracy with martial law rumors, what exactly is the Democratic Party’s intention? I want to ask this back to them."
Spokesperson Jung questioned, "Is this perhaps a build-up for impeachment?" and asserted, "If there is no evidence, it is only fitting to call them rumor spreaders and fake news reporters."
She added, "The Democratic Party is resembling the agitational politics of Nazi Stalinist totalitarianism," and said, "It can only be seen as agitation that normalizes and brainwashes the public into accepting impeachment and martial law that could shake the entire nation."
She then addressed Lee Jae-myung, saying, "If this is not irresponsible agitation, then stake your position as party leader and speak," implying that there will be a strong response to future false agitation.
A Presidential Office official added, "We have strongly expressed regret over the spread of rumors again this time as we did previously, and if it happens again, we will discuss the next measures internally."
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