Kwon Sungdong Urges President Lee: "If Innocent, Confidently Accept the Trial"

"Lee Jaemyung, Five-Time Convict; Kim Minseok, Four-Time Convict... All Have Criminal Records"
Presidential Office Appointments... "National Unity Is an Empty Slogan"

Kwon Sungdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, on June 10 called on President Lee Jaemyung to "declare that, as he stated during the election process, if all indictments are mere fabrications and he is innocent, he will confidently accept the trial proceedings."

At the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Kwon stated, "That is the minimum way to uphold the dignity of the President of the Republic of Korea and to earn the trust of the people."

Kwon Sungdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on June 10, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

He referred to the Seoul High Court's decision the previous day to postpone the retrial date for President Lee's violation of the Public Official Election Act, saying, "The court added the condition that it was a 'measure in accordance with Article 84 of the Constitution.' Article 84 of the Constitution stipulates that 'the President shall not be subject to criminal prosecution during his term of office except in cases of insurrection or treason.' This means that new indictments for a retrial are impossible, but it never means that trials already pending in court must also be halted."

He continued, "If a judge arbitrarily interprets the Constitution, the consistency and authority of the judiciary will be entirely shaken. Not a single judge should undermine this principle on their own."

Kwon also addressed the Supreme Court, stating, "A just ruling based on the Constitution and the law is the responsibility of the entire judiciary. The Supreme Court must fulfill its duty for judicial justice."

Regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's push to amend the Criminal Procedure Act, he criticized, "They are shaking the judicial system by creating a law solely for President Lee, the only criminal defendant in the history of the Republic of Korea to face five trials. It is pitiful to see the Democratic Party unable to feel secure even with the indefinite postponement of the Public Official Election Act trial."

Kwon also commented on President Lee's recent appointments, saying, "Once again, it seems that national unity was an empty slogan. How can national unity be achieved when President Lee appoints individuals involved in extreme corruption or anti-American activities, which the public cannot accept?"

He particularly pointed out, "Currently, President Lee is in effect a five-time convict. Candidate Kim Minseok is a four-time convict. Chief of Staff Kang Hunsik has three convictions, including unlicensed driving. I cannot help but question whether a 'government of convicts,' where both the President and Prime Minister have criminal records, is truly the identity of this new administration."

He added, "The President refers to U.S. forces as 'occupying troops' and is involved in an illegal remittance to North Korea case; the Prime Minister is a former anti-American activist with a criminal record, and the Director of the National Intelligence Service is known for pro-North Korean views. How can the United States trust the ironclad maintenance of the ROK-U.S. alliance under these circumstances? I hope President Lee reflects on whether this is why the White House expressed concerns about Chinese interference in his election."