Han Donghoon: "Lee Jaemyung's 'License to Lie' Revoked"
Kim Moonsoo: "If He Has Any Conscience, He Must Withdraw His Candidacy"
Kwon Youngse: "Democratic Party Should Replace Its Presidential Candidate"
On May 1, after the Supreme Court issued a ruling to overturn and remand the appeal in the case of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's violation of the Public Official Election Act, the presidential contenders of the People Power Party unanimously called for Lee to withdraw his candidacy.
Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung is checking his smartphone after concluding a meeting with non-typical workers such as delivery riders and courier drivers under the theme "Invisible Heroes Who Make Your Day" at a pojangmacha restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 1st. Yonhap News
Han Donghoon, former leader of the People Power Party and a preliminary presidential candidate, wrote on Facebook, a social networking service, later that afternoon, "The Supreme Court, sitting en banc, has corrected the appellate court's ruling that effectively granted Lee a 'license to lie.' I pay my respects to this prompt and just decision."
He continued, "With this, Lee's 'license to lie' has been revoked, and at the same time, it is as if his qualifications as a politician have also been stripped away. He must resign immediately."
Han further criticized, "To claim that he can still run for president by using the excuse that a retrial at the High Court remains is truly a slippery, law-bending idea. If an unqualified player insists on remaining at the starting line by force, even the audience will not tolerate it."
He added, "Of course, such a dangerous figure as Lee Jaemyung will not step down quietly. We must win, not only to remove this unqualified player from the field, but also to return falsehoods to their rightful place. We must prevail not only in the court's ruling but also in the people's election."
Han concluded, "Now, let us break free from defeatism. I will stand at the forefront of the path to victory."
Chief Justice Choi Hee-dae and other Supreme Court justices attended the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 1st to deliver the verdict on the appeal trial of the Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's violation of the Public Official Election Act. Photo by Yonhap News
Kim Moonsoo, former Minister of Employment and Labor and a finalist in the People Power Party's presidential primary, also issued a statement that day, urging, "If there is even the slightest conscience, Lee should resign from his candidacy immediately."
Kim stated, "Lee has never once reflected on his wrongdoing, and has only piled lie upon lie, seeking ways to deceive the public and escape responsibility. While he claims to be confident of his innocence, he has used every trick to delay the trial repeatedly."
He continued, "Resigning from the candidacy would be the minimum duty owed to the people. If he continues to try to deceive the public with shallow lies, the people themselves will judge him."
Kwon Youngse, interim leader of the People Power Party, also held a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, that afternoon, stating, "If the Democratic Party is a responsible party, it should promptly replace its (presidential) candidate. The People Power Party will take today's ruling as a milestone for the restoration of the rule of law."
Kwon explained, "Of the 12 Supreme Court justices, 10 found Lee guilty. The constitutional principle that no one is above the law has been reaffirmed."
He continued, "As the court clarified, Lee Jae-myung's remarks were not simply a slip of the tongue, but a serious matter that distorted the public's judgment during the election process. The fact that such an obvious issue has dragged on for more than three years is itself a clear wrongdoing."
He added, "Now, the ball is in the court of the Democratic Party and Lee. Elections must be built on trust. This alone means Lee has already lost his qualifications as a presidential candidate." Kwon further stated, "If, even after such a ruling, he insists on remaining the presidential candidate, that itself is a grave insult to the people."
Kwon Seongdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, also told reporters immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, "The Supreme Court's decision is extremely reasonable and based on fundamental legal principles. I hope Lee will take responsibility for his repeated violations of the law and immediately withdraw from the candidacy."
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