Lee Jae-myung, "I Will Never Die," at Rally the Day After Receiving Suspended Prison Sentence

"Only hope to be a faithful tool of the people"
"Eliminate corruption and hold the unjust accountable"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said to his supporters at a rally held on the 16th, "Lee Jae-myung never dies."

At the party-hosted third rally titled "Condemnation of Kim Geon-hee and Yoon Seok-yeol's State Power Abuse and Call for Special Prosecutor," held around Gwanghwamun that day, Lee emphasized his vitality, saying, "Lee Jae-myung is alive and well, greeting you all."

Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung is greeting from the podium at an outdoor rally held by the Democratic Party of Korea on the afternoon of the 16th near the north plaza of Gwanghwamun, Seoul, titled "3rd National Action Day to Condemn Kim Geon-hee and Yoon Seok-youl's State Power Abuse and Demand a Special Prosecutor." Photo by Yonhap News.

Referring to the time when he started his political career in July 2004, he said, "Back then, politics was an era where the entrenched powers demanded loyalty pledges for nominations, huge amounts of money were spent to get elected, and if elected, one would walk the path of a thief, but if defeated, one would become destitute. The late President Roh Moo-hyun was the one who opened the path where anyone, with the support of the people and party members, could run for office and become a public official. (Omitted) I have followed the path he opened."

He continued, "From that moment, I hoped to be used not as an individual Lee Jae-myung, but as a faithful tool for the people of this country, and I did not wish for more than that," adding, "I have run with all my might to eliminate corruption, hold the unjust accountable, and create a world where people feel 'this is a fair society' and 'our children have hope.'"

Regarding the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, he said, "Let us clearly show that even the money they happily spend on imperial golf is money we earned with sweat and blood by taking crowded buses early in the morning," and added, "Lee Jae-myung does not die. Democracy does not die. The future of this country does not die."

He went on to say, "At some point, it seems the owners of this country have changed to Yoon Seok-yeol, Kim Geon-hee, and 'Myeongtae' (Myeongtae Gyun)," and asserted, "Now the people must proudly reclaim their position as the owners of the democratic republic of Korea."