Kwon Youngse, Kwon Seongdong, and Na Kyungwon Visit Yoon at Seoul Detention Center
Yoon Reportedly Compares Democratic Party to Nazis
On the 3rd, President Yoon Suk-yeol met with People Power Party lawmakers including Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se, Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong, and Representative Na Kyung-won, and regarding the December 3 emergency martial law measures, he said, "I could not just stand by as the government was paralyzed by parliamentary dictatorship through impeachment and budget cuts, so I took these measures with a heavy sense of responsibility."
Chairman Kwon told reporters at the National Assembly main building in the afternoon, "There was some discussion about why martial law was imposed," adding, "Starting from impeachment and special investigations, it was impossible to carry out government duties due to various forms of (parliamentary dictatorship), so there was talk that martial law had to be considered."
He continued, "(President Yoon) was very worried about the country. He was deeply concerned about security issues and the difficulties our economy faces due to changes in the international situation," and added, "He expressed the intention that our party should unite as one to gather the people's hearts well and play a significant role in leading the country properly."
Regarding the 'pardon request rumor' raised by Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok, Chairman Kwon explained, "There was no talk of a pardon at all." Earlier, Lee appeared on YTN's radio program 'News Fighting with Kim Young-soo' and said about the meetings with Chairman Kwon and Floor Leader Kwon, "(President Yoon) will indirectly say, 'Make sure to win the election later and grant me a pardon.'"
Representative Na also told reporters in front of Seoul Detention Center right after meeting President Yoon, "He said that since the parliament has effectively become a one-party dictatorship by the Democratic Party, making it impossible to carry out any government affairs, he took these measures with a heavy sense of responsibility as the president, thinking he must somehow resolve this."
Representative Na introduced that President Yoon said, "It is fortunate that through this martial law, the people have come to know about the various behaviors by the Democratic Party as the ruling party that have effectively paralyzed the government."
President Yoon is also reported to have compared the Democratic Party to Nazi Germany. When reporters asked Representative Na after the opening ceremony of the February extraordinary session if it was true that President Yoon made remarks related to the Nazis, he said, "Just as the Nazi regime came to power through elections, (the Democratic Party could become such a form), and this came up during discussions about parliamentary dictatorship."
Chairman Kwon and Representative Na drew a line against criticism calling President Yoon's successive meetings with the presidential office aides, ruling party leadership, and senior lawmakers 'prison politics.' Representative Na said, "Since the president is an incumbent and a politician, it is natural that he would deliver messages as a politician," and added, "I don't think this should be called prison politics." Chairman Kwon also said, "He is a president from our party and is currently only suspended from duty," and retorted, "Some opposition lawmakers ask why he visits the detention center, but since he was put in the detention center, he has no choice but to visit there."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
