Lee Jae-myung: "Yoon's Dismissal Should Proceed Swiftly to Minimize Confusion"
Lee Jun-seok: "Deeply Agree but Must Show Sincerity"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, urged the Constitutional Court to expedite the impeachment process of President Yoon Seok-yeol. In response, Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform New Party, criticized, “Leader Lee should show sincerity by also calling for a swift verdict in his own election law trial.”
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Jun-seok, member of the Reform New Party, are greeting each other while voting on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol at the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
On the afternoon of the 15th, Lee shared a breaking news post on Facebook titled ‘Lee Jae-myung requests the Constitutional Court to expedite President Yoon Seok-yeol’s impeachment process,’ stating, “I deeply agree with Leader Lee Jae-myung’s claim that the impeachment process should proceed swiftly to minimize national confusion,” but he also made it clear that Leader Lee’s trial should be expedited as well.
He said, “The Constitutional Court must not yield to any tactics by President Yoon Seok-yeol’s side aimed at delaying the procedure,” and added, “Similarly, the courts should follow Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae’s words and adhere to the strict provisions of the Public Official Election Act trial to prevent anyone from engaging in strategic maneuvers for protection in the upcoming presidential election.” Chief Justice Cho has emphasized the ‘6-3-3 principle’ for Public Official Election Act cases. Recently, Chief Justice Cho sent a recommendation letter to courts at all levels, urging them to comply with Article 270 of the Public Official Election Act, which stipulates that “sentences for election crimes must be delivered within 6 months for the first trial, and within 3 months each for the second and third trials after the previous verdict.” Accordingly, the result of the second trial for Leader Lee, who was sentenced to a disqualification from candidacy with a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years in the first trial, is likely to be announced early next year.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Jun-seok, member of the Reform New Party, are greeting each other while voting on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol in the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
Currently facing five trials simultaneously, Leader Lee was sentenced on the 15th of last month in the first trial for violating the Public Official Election Act to one year in prison with a two-year suspension, resulting in disqualification from candidacy. If the loss of his parliamentary seat is confirmed before the presidential election, he will be unable to run. The outcomes of other trials, including the perjury inducement appeal and the North Korea remittance allegations, are also unpredictable.
Lee Jun-seok said, “A constructive election environment where the public can deliberate on policies and visions is necessary to select the right candidate to overcome Korea’s crisis through a constructive election,” and added, “Leader Lee Jae-myung should show sincerity by calling for both the Constitutional Court’s swift impeachment review and a speedy verdict in his own election law trial to avoid becoming the same as Yoon Seok-yeol.” He concluded by saying, “I look forward to it.”
Earlier that day, Leader Lee held a press conference at the National Assembly, urging the Constitutional Court to “expedite President Yoon’s impeachment process,” stating, “That is the only way to minimize national confusion.” Regarding his own judicial risks and presidential candidacy prospects, he said, “Many agree that the indictment itself is highly political and unreasonable. Our constitution adopts the principle of presumption of innocence. A reasonable outcome will be achieved according to law and common sense.”
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