Kim: "Is Lee the Emperor?" vs Lee: "I Never Gave Such Instructions" over Democratic Party's Shielding Legislation

Kim and Lee Clash Over Supreme Court Impeachment
"Is Lee Jaemyung an Emperor?" vs. "I Never Gave Such Instructions"

Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party’s moves to impeach the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and propose an increase in the number of Supreme Court justices, asking, "Is candidate Lee Jaemyung an emperor?" In response, candidate Lee retorted, "I never gave such instructions."

Yonhap News

During the 21st presidential election candidate debate held at MBC in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on May 27, Kim mentioned the Democratic Party's push for the impeachment and special investigation of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, as well as the proposal to increase the number of Supreme Court justices. He asked, "Is candidate Lee an emperor?" and pointed out, "If you shake the rule of law and the separation of powers in the Republic of Korea, can our country survive?"

In response, Lee stated, "I did not instruct anyone to pursue a special investigation or impeachment, and I actually told them to put on hold any attempts by individual lawmakers to amend the law because it could be problematic. I hope people don't act as if I ordered everything myself."

When Kim listed the ongoing trials involving Lee and demanded an apology to the public by saying, "You claim to be unfairly accused, but if that's the case, why are you on trial? Are you living above the law, not in the Republic of Korea but alone in the sky?" Lee countered, "The prosecution brought these cases without any grounds, simply to make me suffer and to create a negative image, filing unjust indictments and resulting in trials."

Lee stated, "Four of the cases have resulted in definitive acquittals, and I was also acquitted in the trial related to perjury instigation. The trial regarding the Public Official Election Act resulted in a verdict that is hard to accept, but if there had been concrete evidence in the remaining cases, it would have caused a major uproar in the media."

Kim expressed concern, saying, "You received 89.77% support, making you the absolute power within your party and in the history of the Democratic Party and political parties in Korea. Shouldn't you refrain from such actions against yourself and instead face trial properly and comply with the law?"