Kim Dong-yeon: "If the civil war is not ended early, national dignity will deteriorate further"

Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, urged that Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, should confidently face the election law trial. He also emphasized that the internal conflict must end as soon as possible to restore the shattered national pride and the country's dignity.

On the 13th, at a '2025 New Year Press Conference' held at a restaurant in Suwon, Governor Kim said, "Regarding Lee Jae-myung's election law case, it will proceed through the court's normal and lawful procedures," adding, "Leader Lee should confidently confront it."

He continued, "The entire nation watched on TV as illegal martial law was imposed and the military was mobilized to suspend the National Assembly's functions," expressing regret, "Many foreign leaders who contacted me afterward first asked, 'Are You O.K,' and then questioned whether South Korea was really such a country."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is speaking at the '2025 New Year Press Conference' on the 13th. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

In particular, he shared an anecdote, saying, "On Christmas Eve last year, I met with U.S. Ambassador Goldberg, and during our conversation, he, who had served as a career diplomat for many years, expressed how appalled he was by South Korea's situation," adding, "He was utterly baffled."

He then raised his voice, stating, "The early end and punishment of the internal conflict must be done as soon as possible," and "For democracy, economic recovery, national dignity, and the pride of the people, the first priority must be ending the internal conflict."

Furthermore, he sternly warned, "Seeing the ringleader of the internal conflict barricading himself in a car and sending messages to some far-right groups to divide the country in two is not only pathetic but infuriating," adding, "If this situation is not ended quickly, the country's dignity will deteriorate further, and as time passes, everything in South Korea will be trampled upon."