Ulsan City Council Passes Resolution Urging Prompt Trial on February 12
Gyeonggi Council Submits Similar People Power Party-Led Proposal on Same Day
Democratic Party: "Pressuring the Judiciary... Take the Lead in Impeaching Yoon Suk-yeol"
After a resolution urging a prompt trial for Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was passed in a plenary session under the initiative of Ulsan City Council members from the People Power Party, the Democratic Party immediately voiced its opposition. On February 12, Yonhap News reported, "Ulsan City Council passed the 'Resolution Urging the Judiciary for Prompt and Fair Judgments' at the 1st plenary session of the 253rd extraordinary meeting held that day." The resolution was spearheaded by Councilor Kwon Sunyong, with the remaining 18 People Power Party members and independent Councilor Ahn Soo-il, formerly of the People Power Party, also listed as sponsors.
Ulsan City Council passed the "Resolution Urging the Judiciary for Prompt and Fair Judgments" at the 1st plenary session of the 253rd extraordinary meeting on the 12th. Photo by Ulsan City Council
Through the resolution, they asserted, "The Democratic Party is abusing its status as the overwhelmingly dominant opposition party to force through legislation, abuse impeachment powers, and undermine the principle of separation of powers, thereby engaging in parliamentary dictatorship." They further claimed, "Such actions threaten the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea and pose a serious problem that shakes the very foundation of liberal democracy."
They also stated, "In particular, political pressure that undermines the independence of the judiciary and the shield politics aimed at protecting the criminal Lee Jae-myung have gone too far," adding, "The judiciary must fulfill its role as the final bastion safeguarding the fundamental rights of the people and the values of democracy, maintaining unwavering independence and fairness."
Additionally, in order to restore governmental stability, the separation of powers, and constitutional order, they demanded: an end to the legislative and impeachment overreach and dictatorial violent acts aimed at protecting Lee Jae-myung; a halt to political behaviors that deny liberal democracy in Korea and seek to create a state of anarchy; and a prompt and lawful trial regarding Lee's violations of the Public Official Election Act and subornation of perjury, in order to restore trust in the rule of law.
The resolution passed in its original form with 20 councilors who were listed as sponsors voting in favor, while two Democratic Party members voted against it. The city council plans to send the resolution to the Office of the President, the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and the Office of the Prime Minister.
The Ulsan branch of the Democratic Party immediately protested, stating, "People Power Party councilors should refrain from reckless behavior, focus on people's livelihoods, and apologize to the citizens of Ulsan." They further criticized, "The resolution is filled with nothing but false agitation and fabrication against the opposition leader, point by point," and added, "Those who have sacrificed their party to pseudo-religious figures and far-right forces are now hypocritically pretending to wish for justice from the judiciary and stability for the nation and the people's livelihoods."
They also argued, "Urging the judiciary to make a ruling constitutes interference and pressure on the judiciary, and is nothing more than a 'local council version' of abetting insurrection, as seen in the situation surrounding the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol." They continued, "It is lamentable that city councilors have become mere accomplices to forces fomenting insurrection in the country." They added, "We have complete trust in the judiciary and the Constitutional Court," and stated, "The People Power Party, which has destroyed true conservatism, should no longer claim to represent conservatives."
On the same day, a similar resolution urging the judiciary for a prompt and fair trial for Lee was submitted at the Gyeonggi Provincial Council. The People Power Party had decided to adopt the resolution as the party line at a general meeting of its lawmakers the previous day, and it was reported that 73 out of 76 People Power Party councilors had signed the proposal. In response, the Gyeonggi branch of the Democratic Party protested, stating, "Before talking about Lee Jae-myung's trial, take the lead in impeaching Yoon Suk-yeol."
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