60s Dies After Collapsing During Impeachment Protest... Lee Jae-myung Mourns, "I Will Carry On the Will"

"This Happened Because the People Had to Do What Politics Should Have Done"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, mourned a party member who collapsed and died of cardiac arrest while holding a picket protest calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol, apologizing by saying, "This is something that happened while the people were directly doing what politics should do."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. 2025.3.12 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the 17th, Lee posted on his social media (SNS) under the title "Rest in peace, comrade A," writing, "I received the heartbreaking news that our party member A collapsed and passed away during a picketing protest calling for impeachment." He added, "My heart breaks at the news that a comrade who devoted themselves more passionately than anyone else has left us."

According to the police, at around 8:13 a.m. that day, a man in his 60s, identified as A, collapsed in a state of cardiac arrest at an intersection in Unam-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. A was transported to a hospital by the fire department, which responded to the emergency call, but ultimately passed away. It was reported that A, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, was participating in a picket protest on the street calling for President Yoon's impeachment.

Upon hearing the news, Lee wrote, "This is something that happened while the people were directly doing what politics should do," adding, "If the representatives of the people had fulfilled their roles, this would not have happened. I bow my head and offer my apologies."

He continued, "I will faithfully carry on your will," and mourned the deceased by saying, "Please entrust the remaining tasks to me as the leader and to the party, and rest peacefully there."

He also expressed sincere condolences to the bereaved family and comrades at the Gwangju City Party, saying, "I offer my heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family and comrades of the Gwangju City Party who must be in deep sorrow," and added, "Once again, I sincerely pray for the repose of the deceased."

It was investigated that A suddenly collapsed while participating in the picket protest calling for President Yoon's impeachment along with other party members that day, and no other criminal suspicions such as trauma were found. The police plan to investigate the exact cause of death.