Democratic Party Criticizes Scheduling of Lee Retrial: "Blatant Presidential Election Interference... Cannot Escape Judgment of the People"

The Democratic Party of Korea on May 2 criticized the scheduling of the appellate retrial for presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung's alleged violation of the Public Official Election Act for May 15, stating, "Even the public watching is feeling a suffocating sense of pressure," and warning, "If blatant election interference does not stop, there will be no escaping the judgment of the people."

Yonhap News

Chief Spokesperson Cho Seungrae of the election campaign committee said in a written briefing that day, "Following the Supreme Court's reckless and hasty ruling and its intervention in the presidential election, even the allocation of the appellate court panel was pushed forward as if it were a military operation," adding, "The astonishingly rapid maneuvers of the remnants of the rebellion, aiming for the resurgence of Yoon Sukyeol, continue."

He further pointed out, "As soon as the retrial panel was assigned, the court immediately set the trial date for the 15th," and criticized, "This blatant intervention in the presidential election is aiding the resurgence of the remnants of the rebellion and destroying common sense."

Chief Spokesperson Cho added, "It is common knowledge among all citizens that a verdict before the presidential election is impossible under the Criminal Procedure Act," and urged, "The retrial panel must decide whether to stand with the people or with the remnants of the rebellion. This is the final opportunity the people are giving the court."

Representative Lee Haesik wrote on his Facebook page, "The president is chosen by the people. The judiciary surely knows this," and demanded, "Immediately stop any further blatant election interference. Otherwise, there will be no escaping the judgment of the people."

Floor spokesperson Noh Jongmyun also wrote on Facebook, "Their operation moves like interlocking gears," and asserted, "The fact that the appellate court scheduled the leading presidential candidate's trial during the official campaign period confirms their intention to intervene."