"‘If you move, I will kill you,’ Choi Min-hee admits to strong remarks and bows head"

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Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has elicited emotional reactions from both the party leadership and supporters regarding the first trial verdict on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. As extreme remarks such as "I will kill him" surfaced, some within the party expressed concern.

Minhee Choi, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said she would "kill it together with party members" in response to predictions that the anti-Lee Jae-myung faction within the party would become more active. After criticism arose both inside and outside the party, she acknowledged that her remarks were strong and bowed her head. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

On the 16th, Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Min-hee, at the '3rd National Action Day to Condemn Kim Geon-hee and Yoon Seok-yeol's State Power Abuse and Demand a Special Prosecutor' rally near Gwanghwamun, Seoul, told the YouTube channel 'OhmyTV' in an interview, "Some media outlets are already reporting that the silent anti-Lee faction within the Democratic Party has begun to move," adding, "If they move, they will die. I will kill them together with party members." This was interpreted as a warning in response to the anti-Lee faction's activities, such as the 'Choilhoe' group inviting former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum for a special lecture on the 1st of next month.

The party leadership vented dissatisfaction toward the judiciary. At the party's Supreme Council meeting held on the 18th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, seven out of nine speakers, excluding Lee and Supreme Council member Song Soon-ho, defended Lee and criticized the judiciary. Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae said, "The first trial court's verdict is clearly judicial murder to anyone who sees it," calling it "the worst ruling that will remain a stain in the history of the judiciary." Senior Supreme Council member Kim Min-seok sarcastically remarked, "Who would call the flimsy legal reasoning, based on the prosecution's fabricated indictment, rational rather than emotional?" and added, "No wonder people question whether the judge graduated from Seoul National University Law School."

Supporters also expressed strong language. On Lee's fan cafe 'Jaemyeongine Maeul,' the presiding judge Han Seong-jin of the first trial was disparaged as 'panreki' (a derogatory term comparing a judge to trash). One supporter said about Choi's remarks, "I hope she never apologizes," adding, "I was depressed, but thanks to Choi, I gained courage and felt relieved." Other supporters responded with comments like "If she apologizes, I will withdraw my support" and "Let's fill Choi's donation account."

This reaction contrasts sharply with the response just before Lee's first trial verdict. On the 13th, the Seoul Central District Court prohibited filming and live broadcasting of the verdict announcement, stating, "The decision was made after comprehensively considering the related legal interests." In response, Jeon Hyun-hee, chairperson of the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Judicial Justice, said, "The People Power Party's intention is intimidation and power display toward the judiciary, using threats backed by authority," adding, "The court responded fairly without wavering." Democratic Party spokesperson Hwang Jeong-ah also said, "We welcome the court's decision."

Within the party, some voices expressed concern over the heated reactions toward the judiciary. On the 18th, Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Sung-ho said on YTN Radio's 'Shin Yul's News Face-off,' "(Emotional remarks toward the judiciary) are not desirable," emphasizing, "A verdict is a verdict. We must respect the judiciary's decision." He continued, "At times like this, the party should respond calmly," stressing, "It is necessary to do our best to achieve good results within judicial procedures and to show the party taking the lead in managing people's livelihoods and the budget."

As criticism arose both inside and outside the party, lawmaker Choi eventually bowed her head. On the 19th, she posted on her social media, "I acknowledge that my remarks were too strong," adding, "I believe the Democratic Party will unite tightly to stand against political prosecution and protect Leader Lee, who is suffering from attempts to eliminate political opponents."