Ahn Cheolsoo Holds 'Oppose the Pardon of Cho Kuk and Yoon Meehyang' Placard During President Lee's Liberation Day Speech

People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheolsoo is holding up a banner that reads "Oppose the pardon of Cho Kuk and Yoon Meehyang" as President Lee Jae-myung finishes his congratulatory speech and heads to his seat at the 80th Liberation Day celebration held at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Presidential Office Press Photographers Group, Yonhap News

Ahn Cheolsoo, a member of the People Power Party running in the party's August 22 convention, attended the Liberation Day celebration on the 15th and protested by holding up a placard reading "Oppose the pardon of Cho Kuk and Yoon Meehyang" toward President Lee Jaemyung as he delivered his congratulatory speech.

During the 80th Liberation Day celebration held in the morning at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Ahn stood up in the middle of President Lee Jaemyung's speech and held up a placard that read "Oppose the pardon of Cho Kuk and Yoon Meehyang."

Ahn remained standing until President Lee finished his speech. President Lee did not show any particular reaction to Ahn's protest.

Previously, on the 14th, Ahn harshly criticized President Lee over the pardons of former Cho Kuk Innovation Party leader Cho Kuk and his wife Chung Kyungshim, as well as the appointment of Busan National University law professor Cha Jungin as Chairperson of the National Education Commission. On Facebook, Ahn wrote, "It seems President Lee Jaemyung must have some hidden debt to the Cho Kuk couple," and added, "Unless President Lee has borrowed a massive debt from them, why would he grant a double pardon to the couple on the 80th anniversary of Liberation, and even give a minister-level position to their child's spokesperson? What kind of obligation does he owe them to be showing this kind of bromance in state affairs?"

On the 12th, Ahn also criticized President Lee over the pardons of former leader Cho Kuk and former lawmaker Yoon Meehyang, saying, "You will come to deeply regret this." He added, "President Lee Jaemyung of the Republic of Korea, I have watched for two months, but you are not qualified. Is ignoring the Constitution and destroying the rule of law what makes the real Republic of Korea?"