"Lee, Irresponsible Provocation... Speak with Party Leader Position at Stake"
"Regarding Moon's Daughter, 'Inappropriate to Respond Due to Ongoing Prosecutor Investigation'"
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]
On the 2nd, the Presidential Office stated its position regarding the 'martial law preparation suspicion' raised by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, "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 on ours," adding, "We are appalled that the leader of a public political party in Korea broadcast fabricated rumors live (at the previous day’s ruling-opposition leaders' meeting)."
She further stated, "If there is even a shred of evidence, please present it," and questioned, "The Constitution obligates the president to preserve the territory, and Korea is a democratic republic under the Constitution. Yet, by raising suspicions about the obligation to preserve territory through the erasure of Dokdo and slandering the president who protects liberal democracy with martial law rumors, what exactly is the Democratic Party’s intention?"
Yongsan: "Democratic Party Slanders President with Martial Law Rumors"
Spokesperson Jung retorted, "Is this perhaps a build-up for impeachment?" and asserted, "If there is no basis, it is only fitting to call them rumor spreaders and fake news reporters."
She added, "(The Democratic Party) is resembling the agitprop 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, which could shake the entire nation."
She then urged Lee Jae-myung, "If this is not irresponsible agitation, stake your position as party leader and speak," implying that there will be strong responses to future false provocations.
A Presidential Office official added, "We have strongly expressed regret over the spread of rumors again this time as before, and if it happens again, we will discuss the next steps internally."
Speaker Woo Won-sik is delivering the opening address at the inauguration ceremony of the 22nd National Assembly and the opening ceremony of the 418th National Assembly (regular session) held at the National Assembly plenary hall on the 2nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
"An Abnormal National Assembly Never Experienced Before"
Regarding the opening ceremony of the 22nd National Assembly held without President Yoon’s attendance that day, the official said, "We regret this situation," but also mentioned, "However, the current National Assembly is an abnormal one never experienced before."
They explained that with the frequent use of impeachment and hearings, and even calling the president’s family murderers without hesitation, and with martial law rumors rampant in the National Assembly continuing from yesterday, verbal abuse and picketing against the president are expected, making it difficult for him to attend the opening ceremony.
Meanwhile, regarding reports that former Jeju Police Chief Lee Chung-ho is being considered as the new head of the Presidential Security Service, the Presidential Office stated it is "unfounded."
On the Democratic Party’s criticism of the prosecution’s investigation into former President Moon Jae-in’s daughter as "political retaliation," the office said, "Since this is currently under investigation by the prosecution, it is not appropriate to comment."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
