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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

South Korean opposition leader demands President face trial, citing ex-president's sentence

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok called for President Lee Jae-myung to face legal judgment, referencing a 30-year sentence given to former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
  • Lee criticized the conservative bloc for not separating from Yoon's actions, which involved allegedly provoking North Korea to create a pretext for martial law.
  • He warned President Lee against seeking to evade charges through "prosecution cancellation," stating it would double the resistance he faces.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, has called for President Lee Jae-myung to face legal consequences, drawing a parallel to the 30-year prison sentence handed down to former President Yoon Suk-yeol in a first-instance trial. Yoon was convicted of allegedly provoking North Korean provocations, including sending drones to Pyongyang, to create a pretext for martial law.

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

— Lee Jun-seokCriticizing the conservative bloc's stance on former President Yoon Suk-yeol's legal case.

Lee criticized the conservative political faction, stating, "The military's command authority is a power given to protect the people, not to protect the seat of power. There is no future for conservatives who cannot break away from this." He emphasized that legal standards must be consistent, adding, "Now, President Lee, who is suspected of sending money to the enemy, must also see the end in court."

Now, President Lee, who is suspected of sending money to the enemy, must also see the end in court.

— Lee Jun-seokCalling for President Lee Jae-myung to face legal proceedings.

President Lee is currently facing charges of third-party bribery related to alleged approval of a large payment to North Korea through a former vice governor while he was governor of Gyeonggi Province in 2019. The trial was suspended after he was elected president. Lee Jun-seok warned President Lee, "If you try to escape judgment through prosecution cancellation, the resistance you will face will be twice, even three times, what you imagine now."

If you try to escape judgment through prosecution cancellation, the resistance you will face will be twice, even three times, what you imagine now.

— Lee Jun-seokWarning President Lee Jae-myung against evading legal charges.

"Power is temporary, but responsibility follows to the end," Lee stated. "The person who holds the greatest power right now will hear this lesson most fearfully and loudly." He accused the ruling party of creating a "back door" through "prosecution cancellation," calling it an overreach and an act of treason, whether it involves sending drones or money.

Power is temporary, but responsibility follows to the end.

— Lee Jun-seokCommenting on the consequences of political actions.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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