The Democratic Party of Korea has launched an all-out offensive to enforce the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' following the first trial guilty verdict against party leader Lee Jae-myung under the Public Official Election Act. This move is interpreted as a strategy to intensify the fight against the ruling party, maintain a unified front, and restore internal party discipline shaken by judicial risks.
On the afternoon of the 20th, the Democratic Party will hold a '2nd Emergency Action by Party Members of the National Assembly' to enforce the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act at the National Assembly. This is to ensure the re-passage of the act on the 28th after President Yoon Seok-yeol exercised his veto power following its passage in the plenary session on the 14th. Until the re-vote takes place, the Democratic Party also plans relay protest demonstrations at locations such as Gwanghwamun.
Park Chan-dae, the floor leader, stated at the morning Supreme Council meeting, "The prosecution has indicted Leader Lee Jae-myung once again. This is political retaliation driven by the obsessive and fanatical dictatorship of the prosecution, determined to eliminate political opponents at all costs." Previously, the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Public Investigation Division (led by Chief Prosecutor Heo Hoon) indicted Lee without detention on charges of private misuse of Gyeonggi Province corporate cards. The charges allege that from July 2018 to October 2021, during his tenure as governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee used official vehicles and corporate cards for personal purposes.
Floor leader Park criticized, "How can they slander the leader of the main opposition party while fiercely opposing the special prosecutor investigation into stock manipulation, nomination interference, personnel interference, and allegations of state affairs mismanagement? Aren't they ashamed of claiming that the law is equal to all while leading the shield for numerous criminal allegations against Kim Geon-hee?" He added, "Attacking and criticizing the opposition leader will not make the criminal allegations against Kim Geon-hee disappear. On the contrary, calls for a Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor will only grow louder."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
The Democratic Party is also considering the impeachment of the Minister of National Defense. They plan to seriously pursue the possibility of impeaching Minister Kim Yong-hyun over issues such as the dispatch of an observation group to the Ukraine war and the neglect of anti-North Korea leaflets. They are accelerating a national investigation into the case of fallen Marine soldier Chae Sang-byeong, aiming for as early as next month. Floor leader Park emphasized the need to clarify the truth through a national investigation as soon as possible.
This leadership movement is interpreted as a measure to block internal party division caused by the expansion of Leader Lee’s judicial risks. Earlier, party member Choi Min-hee stated in an interview on the 16th, the day after Lee received a suspended prison sentence in the first trial of the Public Official Election Act, "If you move, you die. I will kill with the party members," addressing the anti-Lee faction.
Within the party, there were calls for cautious responses and emphasis on unity, urging restraint. Jeong Seong-ho, a leader of the pro-Lee faction, minimized criticism of the judiciary within the party and urged a coordinated response. Three days after the statement, Choi explained, "My remarks were too strong. Let's unite and protect the party leader."
However, despite these moves, concerns remain that the situation could worsen depending on the first trial verdict on the 25th regarding Lee’s second 'judicial risk'?the charge of witness tampering. Some speculate that the sentence for the witness tampering trial could be heavier than that for the election law violation, increasing tension within the party.
On the 15th, the day of the first trial verdict hearing for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, supporters of Lee Jae-myung gathered in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, holding a rally demanding the dismantling of the political prosecution. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
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