"'3 Chong 3 Kim'? ... Should Focus on Party Leader"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was found guilty in the first trial for violating the Public Official Election Act, while Jeong Seong-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker, raised his voice, saying, "He is the leader of the main opposition party and also a current member of the National Assembly," and questioned, "Is it really possible to sentence such a person to a disqualification from running in the next election?"
Jeong, a former legal professional known as the 'pro-Lee faction leader,' said on the CBS radio program 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 18th, "I never expected the sentencing to go that far."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the '3rd National Action Day to Condemn Kim Geon-hee and Yoon Seok-youl's State Power Abuse and Demand a Special Prosecutor,' held near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on the afternoon of the 16th. Photo by Yonhap News
He pointed out, "One of Lee's problematic remarks was made on a comprehensive programming channel broadcast, and another came up during a Q&A exchange with lawmakers at a National Assembly audit. Would those really have influenced the election that much?" He added, "Is it possible to sentence someone to disqualification from candidacy based on such interviews? Is it right to deny the people's right to choose like this? I have serious doubts."
Jeong said, "I think there was some misunderstanding in the application of the law and the facts in the first trial verdict," and added, "If it goes to the appellate court, and the judges decide based on principles, I believe the verdict could be overturned."
Regarding Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, criticizing the Democratic Party's outdoor rallies as the 'worst aggravating factor in sentencing,' Jeong responded, "I consider some excessive remarks by party members and criticisms of the judges inappropriate," but added, "However, criticism of the verdict itself is possible."
On the calls for 'judge impeachment' raised mainly by some hardline Democratic Party supporters, he said, "It is not even grounds for impeachment, and it is not desirable to criticize and slander the judges who made the verdict."
Regarding the judicial risks faced by Lee and the mention of 'Plan B' involving the 'Three Kims' (former Prime Ministers Kim Boo-kyum, Lee Nak-yeon, and Chung Sye-kyun; former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo; Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon; and former lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan), Jeong dismissed it as "the personal opinion of Jeon Byeong-heon, leader of the New Future Democratic Party, who has a strong aversion to the Democratic Party," and said, "None of the three former prime ministers or the three other figures in our party think that way."
He added, "The general consensus among most party members and lawmakers is that we should form a united front centered on the party leader, clarify the facts, and do our best to respond properly to the trial."
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