Supreme Court Issues Remand with Guilty Verdict for Lee Jaemyung
Democratic Party Cries "Judicial Coup" and Calls for "Impeachment of Supreme Court Justices"
"Lee Remains Silent and Focuses on Livelihood Issues... This Is Not Good"
After the Supreme Court issued a remand decision with a guilty verdict on May 1 regarding Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, for violating election laws, Democratic Party politicians have strongly protested. In this context, former lawmaker Keum Taeseop advised, "I wish they would send a slightly different message." On May 6, during an interview on SBS Radio's "Kim Taehyun's Political Show," Keum said, "From Lee's perspective, this is actually a great opportunity, but it's unfortunate," and added, "Realistically, there is zero chance that Lee will be disqualified as a candidate due to a guilty verdict from the Supreme Court. Zero."
Regarding some Democratic Party members and supporters raising claims of a "judicial coup" and calls to "impeach the Supreme Court justices," Keum stated, "Since the People Power Party imposed martial law and was impeached, the centrist voters are now ready to support the Democratic Party." However, he pointed out, "But what's worrisome is that the legislature also seems too hardline, and Lee's own character comes across as extremely forceful."
He continued, "If Lee had said something like, 'I have made mistakes and there may be shortcomings in the eyes of the court, but I want to try to change things through this election, and I hope the people will support me,' much of that uneasy impression would have been alleviated." He added, "But as soon as the Supreme Court ruling came out, Democratic Party lawmakers said things like, 'Look at these guys, just wait one month,' and a former vice president of the Democratic Research Institute said, 'Isn't it time to bring down the separation of powers?' I find this problematic."
Previously, lawmaker Kim Byungki posted on social media immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, "Look at these people? Just wait one month," and criticized, "The judicial power is ignoring the constitutional order and trying to dominate the legislative and executive powers as well, isn't it?" However, shortly afterward, he deleted the phrases "Look at these people?" and "Just wait one month" from his original post and added, "No matter what, Lee Jaemyung will be president."
On the same day, Park Jinyoung, former vice president of the Democratic Research Institute, appeared on CBS YouTube's "The Locker Room" and argued, "The Supreme Court has denied the very reason for the existence of the judiciary," and added, "We need to reconsider the separation of powers that has lasted for 200 years." He said, "The executive and legislative branches are elected powers, but the judiciary is unelected. If this is how it's going to be, why do we need the judiciary? In the era of artificial intelligence, maybe the judiciary should be abolished," which sparked controversy.
Keum also commented, "Lee is carrying on with his livelihood-focused activities without saying a single word about this. This is very bad." He added, "In fact, many people think, 'Isn't it too much to eliminate the main opposition party's candidate over this right after (former President Yoon's) impeachment?' On the other hand, others think, 'But it's not as if Lee is completely innocent or did everything right. He dragged out the first and second trials, and even saying he didn't know Kim Moonki seems odd to us.'"
He continued, "The Supreme Court unusually expedited the trial," but added, "However, from the perspective of people who do not support Lee or are not fond of the Democratic Party, they might think, 'Why did Cho Kuk's trial last three years, Lee Jaemyung's first trial took two years and two months, and Yoon Sukyeol was ousted in just a few months, yet people complain about the trial being expedited?' and 'Isn't it too much to tell the court not to hold a trial by a certain date?' He emphasized the need to consider the viewpoint of the centrist voters."
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