Hong Joonpyo: "President Lee Has No 'Trial Suspension' Privilege... Will End Up Like Yoon"

Suspicion Raised Over Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance Infiltrating Presidential Office
"If Trials Proceed Normally, President Lee Will Be in the Same Position as Yoon"

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Hong Joonpyo, former mayor of Daegu, criticized President Lee Jaemyung and argued that the presidential privilege of immunity from prosecution does not mean a suspension of trial, yet the Democratic Party is attacking the judiciary. He also insisted that during the upcoming parliamentary audit, the opposition should focus on thoroughly questioning President Lee Jaemyung's alleged criminal activities and suspected ties to the Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance.

On October 15, Hong Joonpyo stated on his social media, "The Achilles' heel of the Lee Jaemyung administration can be summarized in two points. One is whether the public will continue to support a criminal administration, and the other is the connection to the Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance," adding, "The opposition must clarify these two issues during this audit for the public to accept its reason for existence."

In particular, regarding the president's constitutional immunity, he said, "Article 84 of the Constitution simply means that unless the president commits treason or a crime against the state, he cannot be prosecuted. It does not grant the authority to suspend trials for cases already indicted," and pointed out, "Some partisan constitutional scholars claim that the immunity includes suspension of trials, but this is clearly a misinterpretation."

He continued, "Even though the court suspended the trial out of respect for the president's authority, the Democratic Party is relentlessly attacking the judiciary," and added, "This is an incomprehensible action."

Hong Joonpyo warned, "While the breach of trust charge in the Daejang-dong case could be dismissed by legislative abolition, for other cases, if the court resumes the trials as normal, President Lee Jaemyung will be in the same position as former President Yoon Sukyeol." He further stated, "It is truly difficult to understand why they are causing such turmoil against the judiciary."

President Lee Jae-myung is stating his position as he appears at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on January 28, 2023, to undergo prosecution investigation related to the preferential treatment allegations in the Daejang-dong development case. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Addressing the suspicions related to the Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance, he said, "When President Lee Jaemyung was engaged in activism in Seongnam, the Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance, a pro-North Korea group, supported lawyer Lee Jaemyung. The Supreme Court has already ruled it as a subversive organization. It was composed of key members of the Unified Progressive Party, which was dissolved by the Constitutional Court." He continued, "According to the revelations by Assemblyman Park Junghoon, Kim Hyunji, the presidential secretary, was allegedly linked to this group and infiltrated the presidential office. If this is true, it would be a serious incident that shakes the very foundation of the nation."

In conclusion, he emphasized, "The issues of resuming trials for a president indicted for criminal charges and the clandestine activities of the Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance are matters the opposition must uncover during this parliamentary audit," adding, "The Democratic Party must also ensure that these issues do not hinder state affairs by making them clear during this audit."