Ruling and Opposition Parties Remain Divided on March 1st Movement Anniversary: "Threat to Constitutional Order" vs "Destruction of Separation of Powers"

Democratic Party: "Defending Constitutional Order"
People Power Party: "Judicial Reform Undermines Separation of Powers"

On the occasion of the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement, the ruling and opposition parties paid tribute to the patriotic martyrs but showed a clear divide in perspectives on the current political situation, resulting in confrontation.

Park Haecheol, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated in a written briefing on March 1st, "We will firmly oppose any attempts that threaten constitutional order, and we will make no compromises in our mission to safeguard democracy."

Chung Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party (right), and Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, are attending the 107th March 1st Movement Commemoration Ceremony held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News

He said, "The March 1st Movement was both a declaration of national self-determination, in which our people proclaimed 'This country is ours' even under the brutal oppression of colonial rule, and a nationwide struggle for independence. A century later, today, we are once again dispelling a different kind of darkness."

He added, "Although rebel forces threatened the sovereignty and democracy of this land that our forebears protected, the hands of the people who once raised the Taegeukgi were revived as a revolution of light, holding cheering sticks, and ultimately protected the Republic of Korea once again. We will continue to be at the forefront of defending the people's freedoms and rights and in building a just community."

In contrast, the People Power Party criticized the current government and ruling party for undermining constitutional order. Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "The Republic of Korea's democratic republic, rooted in the great March 1st Movement, is today facing a fundamental challenge from the current ruling forces," and pointed out, "The unilateral passage of destructive judicial bills such as the introduction of a distortion offense, the four-tier court system, and increasing the number of Supreme Court justices to 12 constitutes a fundamental challenge and threat to the democratic republic, which operates on the basic principles of checks and balances and the separation of powers."

He continued, "Attempts to destroy the constitutional order of the separation of powers are a direct challenge to the spirit of the March 1st Movement, which established our democratic republic. The People Power Party will fight to repeal the destructive judicial bills, stop the withdrawal of indictments against Lee Jaemyung and resume the five related trials, and restore parliamentary democracy and judicial independence to revive the democratic republic."

Choi Boyoon, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, also stated in a commentary, "If President Lee Jaemyung is sincere about always putting the people first and upholding the rule of law, as he has repeatedly emphasized, he must exercise his right to request reconsideration on the three judicial reform bills." He urged, "President Lee should clearly answer the people through his March 1st Movement commemorative address today."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.