Joo Jinwoo Criticizes Democratic Push for 'Suspension of Trials for Elected President' as "A Law for Lee Jae Myung Alone"

Joo Jinwoo Slams Jung Chungrae's Legislative Push
"Law for Lee Jae Myung Alone Violates Principles of Democracy"

As the Supreme Court has remanded the case of Lee Jae Myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for violation of the Public Official Election Act with a guilty verdict in mind, the political aftermath is intensifying. In the midst of this, Joo Jinwoo, Legal Advisory Chairman of the People Power Party, has strongly criticized the Democratic Party's proposed bill on exceptions to the suspension of presidential duties for a president under trial.

On May 2, Joo posted on social media under the title "A Legal Amendment for Lee Jae Myung Alone?Are These Really Lawmakers?" He said, "Jung Chungrae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, is proposing a bill that would halt ongoing trials for a sitting president," and sharply criticized, "This is a ploy to shield Lee Jae Myung, who refuses to return 43.4 billion won of taxpayer money to the national treasury."

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate accused of breach of trust in Daejangdong and bribery related to Seongnam FC, is attending a trial held last month at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

He continued, "How can a lawmaker, whose duty is to represent the people, create a law solely for one individual, Lee Jae Myung?" He pointed out, "This is 'wiinseolbeop'?creating laws for the sake of a particular person?which goes against the principles of liberal democracy."

'Wiinseolbeop' refers to the act of enacting or amending a law for the benefit of a specific individual. Joo described this as "a special law that could potentially be unconstitutional," and warned, "It could become subject to a presidential veto. If such precedents are set, it may establish a bad habit of changing laws arbitrarily according to political needs in the future."

He also harshly criticized the move by quoting the words of Louis XIV, the absolute monarch of 17th-century France, who said, "L'Etat, c'est moi" ("I am the state"). Joo argued, "Such an attitude is utterly incompatible with a liberal democratic state." At the time, Louis XIV made this statement in person to force the high court into submission, and Joo claimed that Jung Chungrae's actions evoke this very episode.

Joo Jinwoo, Legal Advisory Chairman of the People Power Party, strongly criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's proposed bill on exceptions to the suspension of duties for a president under trial. Photo by Yonhap News

Joo went on to sarcastically remark, "If I may give some advice to Jung Chungrae, if you're going to flatter, do it thoroughly." He added, "Include a clause in the presidential candidacy requirements stating that a candidate must be on trial in at least five cases, and another clause that the Seoul mayor must have served as chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee within the past two years." He pointed out, "That way, Lee Jae Myung will automatically become president, and Jung Chungrae will automatically become Seoul mayor." He then warned, "Do not take the people lightly. Arrogance will inevitably be judged."

Finally, he mocked Jung Chungrae by referencing his Facebook page name, 'Jung Chungrae's Alkongdalkong,' suggesting, "Why not change it to 'Jung Chungrae's Ddallangddallang' now?" and concluded, "With the Seoul mayoral race just around the corner, you should at least have that much sense."