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Lee Jun-seok criticizes Yoon Suk-yeol, calling for Lee Jae-myung to face trial
🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Lee Jun-seok criticizes Yoon Suk-yeol, calling for Lee Jae-myung to face trial

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol, stating that the former president's 30-year prison sentence for alleged involvement in a 2026 martial law declaration should be a benchmark for President Lee Jae-myung.
  • Lee argued that both the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party are silent in the face of their respective leaders' alleged wrongdoings, leaving the Reform Party as the only voice.
  • He warned President Lee Jae-myung against evading legal judgment through procedural maneuvers, emphasizing that power is temporary but accountability is permanent.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, has sharply criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol, drawing a parallel between Yoon's alleged actions and those of President Lee Jae-myung. Lee Jun-seok invoked a hypothetical 30-year prison sentence for Yoon, reportedly for attempting to declare martial law in 2026, to argue that President Lee Jae-myung should also face legal scrutiny under the same standards.

The military chain of command is a power given to protect the people, not to protect the throne. There is no future for conservatives who cannot break away from this.

— Lee Jun-seokCriticizing conservative politics and the perceived inaction of the ruling party.

"The military chain of command is a power given to protect the people, not to protect the throne," Lee stated, addressing conservatives. "There is no future for conservatives who cannot break away from this." He further asserted that whether it involves sending drones to the enemy or sending dollars, such actions constitute an abuse of power and treason.

Whether it involves sending drones to the enemy or sending dollars, such actions constitute an abuse of power and treason.

— Lee Jun-seokEquating alleged actions by political leaders to treason.

Lee accused the ruling People Power Party of remaining silent before Yoon and the Democratic Party of being silent before Lee Jae-myung. "Between these two silences, the only party that can speak is the Reform Party," he declared. He issued a direct warning to President Lee Jae-myung, stating that attempting to evade judgment through the cancellation of charges would result in double or triple the resistance he currently anticipates.

The People Power Party is silent before Yoon Suk-yeol, and the Democratic Party is silent before Lee Jae-myung. Between these two silences, the only party that can speak is the Reform Party.

— Lee Jun-seokPositioning his party as the sole opposition voice.

"Power is temporary, but responsibility follows to the end," Lee emphasized, suggesting that the person currently holding the greatest power would be most affected by this lesson. He concluded by stating that the nation has already paid the price for how power above the law can destabilize a country, and that such a lesson should not be repeated.

I warn President Lee Jae-myung. If you try to escape judgment by canceling the charges, the resistance you will face will be double or triple what you imagine now.

— Lee Jun-seokWarning President Lee Jae-myung against evading legal consequences.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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