Kang Junwook Claims in March Book: "If Lee Jaemyung Becomes President, It Will Be a Totalitarian Regime"

Defending the December 3 Martial Law Attempt...
"An Undemocratic Form of Resistance Against the Tyranny of the Opposition Party"
Claims the "Martial Law = Rebellion" Frame Is "Public Agitation"

Kang Junwook, Secretary for National Integration at the Presidential Office, was belatedly found to have defended the 12·3 Martial Law attempt and criticized President Lee Jaemyung in his book published earlier this year, claiming that if Lee were elected, it would result in a totalitarian and self-righteous administration.

In his book "Barbaric Democracy," published in March, Secretary Kang wrote, "I define President Yoon Sukyeol's martial law as an undemocratic form of resistance against the so-called democratic tyranny of the opposition party," adding, "It was a systematic action taken because the government could no longer tolerate the tyranny of the majority party in the National Assembly, which tied the hands and feet of the government to the point where it could not function (page 205)."

Secretary Kang also argued that the "martial law = rebellion" narrative was nothing more than public opinion manipulation. In his book, he wrote, "Portraying the declaration of martial law, which is the president's authority, as rebellion is nothing more and nothing less than public agitation based on the 'martial law = rebellion' frame."

Regarding former President Yoon, who is on trial for charges of leading a rebellion, Kang stated, "If martial law had resulted in deaths, injuries, restrictions on citizens' basic rights, or infringements on freedom, then the president could be held accountable. However, none of these occurred." This logic is similar to that put forward by groups supporting former President Yoon at the time.

On the "Enlightenment Order" mentioned by former President Yoon during the Constitutional Court proceedings, Kang wrote, "Although it may be difficult for ordinary people to accept emotionally, he actually chose martial law as a way to convey to the public the frustration and hopelessness of the situation at the time (page 272)."

At the same time, Kang expressed his antipathy toward President Lee Jaemyung, who was then a leading presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. Kang wrote, "Regardless of who it is, the thoughts and ideologies of opposition presidential candidates will clearly set the country back, but none are as unpredictable as Lee Jaemyung," adding, "Regardless of personal likes or dislikes, and whether he is a criminal or not, judging by Lee Jaemyung's actions and the way he has lived so far, if he becomes president, it seems likely to become a powerful, fear-driven, totalitarian, and self-righteous administration."

Meanwhile, it was also revealed that Secretary Kang had previously made remarks in a public lecture posted on YouTube, saying that the Democratic Party and the Justice Party "give off a communist vibe" and that the Moon Jaein administration was "on the level of Kim Jongun," making such comments explicitly. In a July 2020 lecture hosted by the "Economic Knowledge Network," then led by former KAIST professor Lee Byungtae, Kang said, "On a personal note, there are the Democratic Party and the Justice Party on that side," adding, "They give off the feeling of being hardcore communists and just communists." He also described the United Future Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, as a "center-left party."