Joonseok Lee: "No Matter How It's Branded as 'National Stability Act,' the Essence Is the 'Trial Suspension Act'... Clearly Unconstitutional"

"Evidence of Conviction in President Lee's Case," Lee Claims
Democratic Party Reignites Debate on Presidential Trial Suspension Act

Joonseok Lee, leader of the Reform New Party.

Joonseok Lee, leader of the Reform New Party, strongly criticized the 'Trial Suspension Act (National Stability Act, Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act)' being pushed by the Democratic Party of Korea, calling it "excessive legislation that undermines the rule of law and seeks to protect those in power, no matter how it is packaged under the name of the 'National Stability Act'." On the 2nd, Lee wrote on his social media, "During the APEC period, in order to strengthen our country's negotiating power, the Reform New Party refrained from unnecessary political disputes, and there were certain diplomatic achievements." He added, "Yet, even in the midst of this, the Democratic Party has once again started something strange."

Lee continued, "Coincidentally, after accomplices in the Daejang-dong case were sentenced to heavy prison terms exceeding the prosecution's recommendations, the Democratic Party is moving in two contradictory directions. One is to claim 'President Lee Jae-myung was unaware' and assert his innocence, and the other is to push for the enactment of the 'Trial Suspension Act' by rebranding it as the 'National Stability Act.'"

He further argued, "The fact that the Democratic Party is insisting on passing a bill that would not be necessary if the president were innocent is itself evidence that they are convinced of his guilt. The content of the bill is clearly unconstitutional and undermines the rule of law." He emphasized, "No matter how much they call it 'national stability,' they cannot hide the fact that its essence is a 'trial suspension act.' This is no different from the past, when attempts at dictatorship were disguised as the Yushin system. Back then, they pushed it through by force, but ultimately could not escape the judgment of history."

Finally, Lee said, "I will watch to see what name conscientious journalists use for this bill in the future. The truthful media will call it the 'Trial Suspension Act,' while only those who have surrendered to power will call it the 'National Stability Act.'"

Rising Tensions Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over President Lee's Legal Risks

Previously, on the 2nd, the Democratic Party of Korea began public discussions on an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that would suspend criminal trials for a sitting president. This so-called presidential trial suspension act was previously brought up for a vote at the National Assembly in June but was halted at the time. Park Soo-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, said, "Discussions on the trial suspension act are an unavoidable practical issue," and added, "There is a possibility it could be dealt with during the regular session of the National Assembly at the end of this month."

Former Planning Director Yoo Donggyu of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who was indicted on allegations of corruption in the Daejang-dong development project, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 31st, expressing his position. Photo by Yonhap News

This move by the Democratic Party appears to be closely related to recent court rulings on the Daejang-dong corruption allegations. The court handed down heavy sentences to members of the Daejang-dong group, and identified former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation executive Yoo Donggyu as a mid-level manager, while pointing to the top leadership of Seongnam City as the main decision-makers and approvers in the project. This has left lingering questions that could potentially affect the trial of President Lee, who was the mayor of Seongnam at the time of the development.

In response, the People Power Party has criticized the Democratic Party's actions as an attempt to erase President Lee's legal risks. On the 2nd, Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated, "It is up to the courts to decide when to resume the five trials related to President Lee's twelve charges," and added, "The Democratic Party's view that presidential trials are automatically suspended under the Constitution is inconsistent with their push to create a separate law for this."

The political battle between the ruling and opposition parties over President Lee's legal risks is expected to intensify for some time. The Democratic Party has already made it clear that, in addition to the trial suspension act, it will push for amendments to punish judges and prosecutors who fabricate evidence or distort facts during investigations, indictments, or rulings. Furthermore, the party is determined to push ahead with the abolition of the crime of breach of trust, despite strong opposition from the People Power Party. Park Soo-hyun, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, predicted, "We expect that public debate on these legislative initiatives will likely intensify around mid to late November."