Opposition leader slams president's 'intimidation' remarks on protesters
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- South Korean opposition leader Jang Dong-hyuk criticized President Lee Jae-myung's call for strict measures against protesters, calling it an attempt to silence citizens.
- Jang accused the president of labeling protesters as conspiracy theorists and agitators to justify dispersing them from Olympic Park.
- The opposition leader urged the president to clarify his stance on a potential by-election and a special prosecutor investigation, which he believes are legitimate public demands.
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of South Korea's People Power Party, has strongly condemned President Lee Jae-myung's remarks regarding the handling of protests. During a Supreme Council meeting, Jang accused the president of attempting to intimidate citizens by labeling them as conspiracy theorists and agitators, thereby justifying police action to disperse them from Olympic Park.
The president threatened citizens gathered at Olympic Park, calling them conspiracy theorists and agitators and stating that police must be held accountable for obstructing their duties.
"The president threatened citizens gathered at Olympic Park, calling them conspiracy theorists and agitators and stating that police must be held accountable for obstructing their duties," Jang stated. He questioned the president's logic, asking, "If the public's concerns are legitimate, what are these conspiracy theories and incitement? And why mention holding police accountable for obstructing duties?"
If the public's concerns are legitimate, what are these conspiracy theories and incitement? And why mention holding police accountable for obstructing duties?
Jang asserted that President Lee's true intention was to have the police disperse the protesters and prevent future gatherings at Olympic Park. He further demanded that if the president acknowledges the legitimacy of public grievances, he must clearly state his position on the proposed by-election and the appointment of a special prosecutor.
The president's true intention was to have the police disperse the protesters and prevent future gatherings at Olympic Park.
President Lee, speaking from Europe, had previously acknowledged the public's legitimate concerns about voting irregularities but criticized what he called attempts to distort the issue with baseless conspiracy theories and claims of an invalid election. He also suggested that protesters' actions, including obstructing police duties, warranted strict measures.
The protesters' actions, including obstructing police duties, warranted strict measures.
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.