Kim Dong-yeon Meets Lee Jong-chan, President of Gwangbokhoe: "The Nation's Precarious Situation Feels Devastating"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon paid an urgent visit to Lee Jong-chan, President of the Liberation Association, on the 4th and expressed his "horrible feelings amid a crisis as if the country is on the brink of collapse."

Governor Kim explained the reason for the urgent visit, saying, "Rather than social integration, it seems the country is being split in two (due to President Yoon Seok-yeol's unconstitutional midnight declaration of martial law). I am especially worried about the economy and people’s livelihoods. I wanted to visit an elder and seek wisdom."

President Lee Jong-chan also said, "It is so deplorable that such a thing could happen." He added, "At times like this, we must calmly and rationally trust the wisdom of the people and move forward," urging, "Governor Kim Dong-yeon should take the lead in normalizing the country."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (left) is visiting Lee Jong-chan, President of the Liberation Association, on the 4th to discuss current issues including the declaration of martial law. Photo by Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Earlier that day, before attending the emergency national situation meeting in Yeouido, Governor Kim expressed gratitude to reporters, saying, "The people stopped the 'President’s coup.' I am truly thankful to all the citizens."

He continued, "All those involved in plotting, planning, and executing the coup must be arrested and severely punished," emphasizing, "That is how we must restore the Republic of Korea."

After President Yoon Seok-yeol’s declaration of martial law, Governor Kim firmly rejected the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s request to close the Gyeonggi Provincial Office during an emergency executive meeting convened at 12:50 a.m. on the 4th. In a post on social media early that same day, he stated, "The value of the Korean won has plummeted. Nighttime stock, futures, and cryptocurrency markets have crashed. The decline in international credit ratings is obvious. Our economy has been severely shaken in just a few hours," and asserted, "President Yoon Seok-yeol, who caused this situation, is not a subject for impeachment but for arrest."