Kim JaeSeop: "If Lee JaeMyung Becomes President, He Will Be Invulnerable... The Collapse of Democracy Has Begun"

"Lee eradicated all checks and balances, destroying intra-party democracy"
"Are you dragging the democracy of the Republic of Korea into the inferno?"

JaeSeop Kim, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for seeking to amend the Public Official Election Act to change the clause on the crime of announcing false information, and for pushing to revise the Criminal Procedure Act to suspend all criminal trials upon a presidential election victory, stating that "the collapse of democracy has begun."

On May 7, Kim wrote on Facebook, "Lee JaeMyung has eradicated all checks and balances, destroying intra-party democracy," adding, "As a result, only Lee JaeMyung and his loyal henchmen, who wield unchecked power, remain in the Democratic Party."

JaeSeop Kim, member of the People Power Party.

He continued, "However, the dogs raised to guard the house have now started to jump the fence and bite the neighbors," and added, "Those who destroyed democracy within the party are now trying to cross the Democratic Party’s fence and undermine the democracy of the Republic of Korea."

Kim further stated that the Democratic Party is changing the clause on the crime of announcing false information in the Public Official Election Act, and also revising the Criminal Procedure Act to suspend all ongoing criminal trials if a person is elected president. He said, "According to this, Lee JaeMyung would receive a judgment of acquittal, and all charges and trials against Lee JaeMyung would be nullified."

He went on to argue, "If Lee JaeMyung becomes president, he would, in effect, become invulnerable to criminal charges, like Geumgangbulgwae (indestructible like a diamond)," and insisted, "the collapse of democracy has begun." He further raised his voice, asking, "Why are you dragging the democracy of the Republic of Korea into the inferno with legislative dictatorship and judicial intimidation?" and added, "If you are going to ruin yourselves, let the Democratic Party do it alone."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a full meeting following the subcommittee on bill review and passed the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act proposed by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim YongMin. The amendment was passed solely by the Democratic Party after People Power Party lawmakers, who opposed the bill, walked out. The amendment stipulates that 'when a defendant is elected president, the court must, by decision, suspend the trial proceedings from the date of election until the end of the presidential term.'