[Impeachment of Yoon Seok-yeol] Lee Jae-myung: "The great people have restored the great Republic of Korea"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, evaluated the Constitutional Court's dismissal ruling against former President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 4th by saying, "The great people have restored the great democratic republic of the Republic of Korea."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is expressing his stance on the Constitutional Court's ruling to dismiss former President Yoon Seok-yeol at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the same day, immediately after the Constitutional Court's ruling, Lee held an emergency press conference in the party leader's meeting room and stated, "The dismissal of former President Yoon, who destroyed the constitution and threatened the people and democracy with guns and knives despite the power entrusted by the people, has been ruled."

He said, "The spirits of Jeju 4.3 and Gwangju 5.18, who fell to the guns and knives of martial law troops, the people who stood up against guns, knives, and tanks, and the courage of generals who refused unjust orders have led this great revolution of light today."

He also said, "The impeachment of a sitting president for the second time is a tragedy in the constitutional history of the Republic of Korea that must never happen again," adding, "All politicians, including myself, must deeply reflect and take responsibility."

He continued, "The Republic of Korea is the only country in world history where unarmed citizens peacefully overpowered unlawful power," and said, "Through the revolution of light following the Candlelight Revolution, our people dramatically revived democracy on this land."

He added, "The world will reevaluate our Republic of Korea and come to admire the power of K-democracy."