President Lee Hosts Luncheon with Five Key Officials on December 3
Woo Wonshik Proposes "Urgent Need to Strengthen National Assembly's Defense System"
Lee Responds, "Absolutely Necessary... Let's Also Establish Plans for the Constitutional Court and Election Commission"
President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the luncheon meeting with five key figures held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News
On December 3, President Lee Jae-myung held a luncheon with five key figures to mark the first anniversary of the 12·3 Martial Law incident and proposed that major constitutional institutions, including the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court, and the National Election Commission, establish plans to strengthen their own defense systems.
According to Lee Kyuyeon, Chief of Public Relations and Communication at the Presidential Office, President Lee made this statement during a luncheon at the Yongsan Presidential Office attended by Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly; Jo Hee-dae, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Kim Sanghwan, President of the Constitutional Court; Kim Minseok, Prime Minister; and Noh Taeak, Chairman of the National Election Commission. The luncheon lasted approximately one hour and forty minutes.
According to Chief Lee, Speaker Woo said, "Watching the insurrection a year ago, I felt an urgent need to strengthen the National Assembly's own defense system." In response, President Lee said, "It is only natural that the National Assembly should have its own right to self-defense and independent security," adding, "Let us also establish plans to strengthen the defense systems of the Constitutional Court and the National Election Commission."
Chief Lee also described the atmosphere at the luncheon as "warm and amicable." He said, "At the end of the conversation, Speaker Woo suggested that he would host the next meeting, and everyone agreed." Chief Lee also shared that President Lee joked with Chairman Noh, saying, "Weren't you the one who suffered the most a year ago?" This remark is interpreted as referring to former President Yoon Suk-yeol's deployment of troops to the National Election Commission during martial law.
Lee Kyuyeon, Chief of Public Relations and Communication, is briefing on the luncheon meeting held on the 3rd at the Yongsan Presidential Office with President Lee Jae-myung and five key figures. Photo by Yonhap News
Chief Lee explained, "As witnessed during the insurrection, the command authority over the National Assembly's security unit did not rest with the Speaker of the National Assembly," adding, "I believe such issues should be improved." He further commented, "Since the Constitutional Court and the National Election Commission are independent institutions, it is reasonable to say that they need their own defense systems."
President Kim of the Constitutional Court suggested, "Since the martial law incident, the Constitutional Court has received a surge of requests for constitutional education," and added, "This is an opportunity to expand personnel and support for constitutional education." Chairman Noh of the National Election Commission also requested, "To overcome the allegations of election fraud that triggered martial law, we must strengthen election education." President Lee responded, "The foundation of democracy is the constitution and elections. Please develop and propose specific educational programs."
Earlier, in his opening remarks, President Lee said, "I should have invited you earlier, but for various reasons, it was delayed. I did not intentionally choose today, but it has become a meaningful day," and added, "You are the heads of constitutional institutions, and as leaders responsible for upholding the constitutional order, this gathering holds special significance."
President Lee continued, "Initially, I wanted to share the results of my overseas trips and discuss the state of national affairs while seeking your advice. I hope to invite you more often in the future and to have open discussions about the challenges each institution faces in its operations."
Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is speaking at a luncheon meeting for five key figures held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 3rd, attended by President Lee Jae-myung. Photo by Yonhap News
In his opening remarks, Speaker Woo said, "On the first anniversary of the lifting of martial law, I sincerely thank the President for inviting us to this luncheon." President Lee added, "Today, as we remember the democracy of light together with the people, I am grateful for this luncheon with the five key figures. I hope today’s meeting will be a meaningful occasion for the advancement of democracy."
Speaker Woo continued, "I can never forget this day a year ago. The memories of that night are still vivid before my eyes," adding, "Many members of the National Assembly, including President Lee, risked their lives and quickly scaled the walls, and the President called upon the people to gather at the National Assembly. The people broke through the darkness to protect the National Assembly, and thanks to them, the National Assembly was not isolated and was able to lift martial law."
During the meeting, the National Assembly presented the President with the "Plaque of Unfading Memory of the Democracy of Light," which was made by recycling furniture damaged by martial law troops. Speaker Woo explained, "The National Assembly created this plaque by recycling damaged furniture to present it to the 190 members who participated in lifting martial law, and I brought it here today to present it to the President as well."
Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae is speaking at a luncheon meeting for the five branches' key figures held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 3rd, attended by President Lee Jae-myung. Photo by Yonhap News
Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae emphasized the role of the judiciary. He stated, "Looking back, as both the President and the Speaker mentioned, the past year has been a time when all state institutions have done their utmost to fulfill their constitutional duties for the full restoration of constitutional order. All members of the judiciary, including myself, have continuously strived to fulfill our constitutional mission by protecting the foundation of the rule of law and safeguarding the rights of the people through prompt and fair trials."
Chief Justice Jo continued, "The judiciary made it clear immediately after the December 3 martial law that it was an unconstitutional act." However, he added, "Since related cases are currently ongoing in court, it is not appropriate for me as Chief Justice to comment on them in detail."
He further noted that while not everyone may agree with the judiciary's decisions, "the legitimacy and trust in the conclusions of individual trials can be secured, as they are ultimately decided through sufficient review and procedures within the institutional framework of the three-tier court system stipulated by the Constitution and the law." He requested, "Please pay close attention to ongoing discussions on judicial reform so that any changes to the judicial system can be made in the best interests of the people."
At the meeting attended by President Lee and the five key figures, Chief Justice Jo expressed his views on judicial reform proposals being pursued by the Democratic Party of Korea, such as the establishment of a special court for insurrection cases, an increase in the number of Supreme Court justices, the abolition of the Court Administration Office, and the introduction of constitutional complaints.
President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the luncheon meeting with five key figures held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News
President Kim of the Constitutional Court recalled that the tenth instance of martial law ended in "five hours and thirty minutes." He said, "The 12·3 Martial Law was lifted in just five hours and thirty minutes, the shortest duration among the ten instances of martial law in our constitutional history. In the Constitutional Court's recent impeachment decision, it was widely recognized and empathized with that the National Assembly was able to swiftly demand the lifting of martial law thanks to the courageous resistance of citizens and the passive conduct of the military and police."
Prime Minister Kim expressed his determination to see the prosecution of the insurrection through to the end. He said, "It was thanks to the people that we were able to prevent the insurrection a year ago and that most of us, who were targets for arrest and removal, are still here safely today. We must not forget that it is the historical mission of our constitutional institutions to eradicate the roots of insurrection in all legislative, judicial, and executive branches and to restore the country to normalcy. If we fail to fulfill this mission, we do not deserve to remain in our positions for even a moment, nor can we consider ourselves truly alive."
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