Kim Byungki: "Yoon Must Live or Die in Prison"
Han Junho: "People Power Party Repeats Old Practices... Convention Will Be in Disarray"
People Power Party Seeks Turnaround by Raising Allegations Against Lee Jinsook and Kang Sunwoo
Democratic Party Increases Pressure by Highlighting Issues with Yoon and People Power Party
On July 10, as the National Assembly's "super week" of confirmation hearings for the 16 ministerial nominees of the first Lee Jaemyung administration began, the Democratic Party of Korea warned that it would respond firmly to what it described as unfounded rumors and personal attacks from opposition parties. At the same time, the party strongly criticized the fundraising for prison deposits for former President Yoon Sukyeol, who is currently detained at Seoul Detention Center, and called on the People Power Party to clearly distance itself from the former president.
This response is seen as an effort to block the ousting of nominees such as Kang Sunwoo, candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, and Lee Jinsook, candidate for Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, who have been the subjects of daily allegations by the People Power Party. It is also interpreted as a move to maintain the high approval ratings for President Lee Jaemyung and the ruling party.
Kim Byungki, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, stated at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "The Democratic Party's standards for confirmation hearings are practicality, competence, and performance. We will respond firmly to the opposition's outdated rumors, reckless personal attacks, and excessive obstruction of state affairs." He added, "The Democratic Party will thoroughly verify the qualifications and abilities of the nominees according to the expectations of the public. We will support the swift completion of the cabinet so that the Lee Jaemyung administration can function properly and ensure stability in state affairs."
Kim Byungki, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on July 14, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Regarding former President Yoon, Kim said, "His lawyers are raising issues with prison conditions and the special prosecutor's investigation, citing the heat, chronic illness, and lack of exercise time. There should not be a shred of sympathy for the ringleader of an insurrection. That is the outcome the public desires: the end of insurrection." He emphasized, "He must serve the full sentence for his crimes of insurrection without a single day of reduction. He must live in prison if he lives, and die in prison if he dies. Only then will such acts of insurrection never happen again."
Han Junho, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, also joined the criticism regarding the posting of a donation account for Yoon's prison deposit by his legal representative on social media. Han pointed out, "Yoon Sukyeol and his wife's assets amount to 7,481,120,000 won, with a large proportion in deposits: Kim Keonhee holds 4.9 billion won, and Yoon holds over 600 million won."
Regarding some members of the People Power Party opposing the apology statement issued by the Innovation Committee, Han remarked, "On one hand, some are calling for innovation by reflecting on the party's shortcomings, but those considering running for party leader are repeating old practices and focusing on attacking the government and the ruling party. As a result, the upcoming People Power Party convention is expected to be in disarray."
The Democratic Party's repeated references to former President Yoon and the People Power Party ahead of the confirmation hearings are interpreted as a strategy to highlight their issues and avoid ceding the initiative during the hearings. This is seen as necessary to secure the early stabilization and initial reform momentum of the Lee Jaemyung administration, which has pledged to end insurrection, and to defend the administration's and the party's approval ratings.
On the 14th, at the confirmation hearing for Kang Sunwoo, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, held by the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, placards demanding the nominee's withdrawal were attached to the seats of the People Power Party lawmakers. 2025.7.14 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
According to a Realmeter poll commissioned by Energy Economy News, conducted from July 7 to 11 among 2,513 eligible voters aged 18 and over nationwide, the "positive evaluation" of the president's job performance was 64.6% (margin of error ±2.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, response rate 6%). In a separate poll conducted over two days from July 10 among 1,003 voters nationwide, the Democratic Party's approval rating was 56.2%, while the People Power Party's was 24.3% (margin of error ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, response rate 5.5%).
Chief Spokesperson Park Sanghyuk told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting, "Each ministry faces urgent tasks. The minimum the party must do at the confirmation hearings is to create the conditions necessary to address these tasks." He added, "The People Power Party is engaging in various false provocations and obstruction. The Democratic Party, both in and out of the Assembly, will respond firmly to these actions."
Regarding some reports that former President Yoon would not cooperate with the special prosecutor's investigation, Park said, "The charges of insurrection for which he has been indicted, and the foreign exchange crimes under investigation, are among the most serious offenses in the legal system of the Republic of Korea. If People Power Party lawmakers are truly innocent of these issues, they should urge Yoon Sukyeol to cooperate with the investigation."
When asked by a reporter about the claim that the current administration's vetting standards have regressed compared to the seven criteria used by the Moon Jaein administration, Park responded, "I believe the principles for forming a cabinet can vary. Even in 2017, there were difficulties, but in the current national crisis caused by insurrection, it is important to quickly establish the conditions and foundation for the administration to function."
Both of these polls were conducted using a 100% wireless automated response system and random digit dialing. For more details, refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
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