Opposition head pleads for support in ‘fight against Yoon dictatorship’
Democratic Party of Korea leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung on Friday made pleas to "salvage democracy" from the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, a day after the National Assembly passed a motion to let the court decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for him.
In a written statement, he called attention to the country’s history of fighting military dictatorships, and the monthslong protests that led to the impeachment of the Park Geun-hye administration.
“As history is a guide, it is always the people that triumph in the end,” he said. “But the Democratic Party must lead the way in fighting the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s tyranny and stopping the dictatorial regime from destroying middle class and democracy.”
He said that if the Democratic Party falls, it’s the people “who will suffer the consequences,” calling for more support for him and his party.
“If we stand united against the prosecutors’ dictatorship, we will prevail.”
Friday’s statement comes after his party announced it would be overhauling its leadership in the Assembly to take responsibility for the passage of the critical motion that may result in Lee’s arrest.
The motion would not have passed unless several lawmakers from the majority-holding Democratic Party voted in favor, which the party characterized as a “betrayal.”
“For failing to unite the party in time of crisis, our floor leaders decided to step down,” the party said in a statement issued late Thursday.
According to his arrest warrant request, submitted by Seoul prosecutors, Lee is accused in three different scandals.
One is that he handed favors to private developers while he was the mayor of Seongnam, allowing them to illicitly profit from the city’s land development project. The second is that, during his trial for impersonating a prosecutor, an offense for which he was convicted, he forced a witness to give false testimony in court. The last one is that he paid North Korean authorities via an illicit route to organize his Pyongyang trip while serving as the governor of Gyeonggi Province.
The court is set to decide on his arrest warrant on Tuesday.
Lee, who is in hospital, has been on a hunger strike against the “tyrannical Yoon administration” since Aug. 31, demanding that the president replace his entire Cabinet.
(责任编辑:커뮤니티)
- Samsung SDI, Stellantis to set up 2nd JV plant in Indiana
- [New in Korean] Booker Prize
- Key ruling party officials offer to resign over by
- SK Ecoplant recycles over 6,000 tons of batteries
- Russian, Uzbek nationals under investigation after campsite brawl
- Choo calls for end to protectionism, supply chain recovery during G20 meeting
- Gyeongbokgung entrance platform, new signboard unveiled
- LG Innotek wins patents for EV charging technology
- 강서구청장 12시 투표율 11.4%…직전 지선보다 2.9%p 낮아
- S. Korea joins ICRC's major donor group for 1st time
- 北, 러 주최 국제포럼서 '국제수송' 논의…무기거래 우회로 찾나
- 이용, 지도부 때린 서병수·홍문표에 "선당후사·솔선수범 하라"
- Seoul shares open higher on US gains
- Try on traditional Korean costume during Hanbok Culture Week
- [HIT Forum] 'Korea ready to become aerospace powerhouse'
- BOK expected to stand pat this week over growth risks: experts
- 北, 러 주최 국제포럼서 '국제수송' 논의…무기거래 우회로 찾나
- [KH Explains] Amazon's cloud industry plans raise fears of Korean market monopoly
- [New on scene] Kim Chang
- [New in Korean] Booker Prize
- Scholars shed light on late Samsung chief’s management initiatives views+
- Beef prices have soared 100 views+
- Ruling party to launch innovation committee after crushing by views+
- Seoul shares up nearly 1 pct on eased concerns over Middle East conflict views+
- Biden says Hamas must be eliminated, US officials warn war could escalate views+
- Industry minister asks refiners to use fair pricing policy amid Israel views+
- '2023 Box Gallery Exhibition' by Youth Impact shows art made of discarded paper views+
- 김성원 여의도연구원장 "공천장사 지라시, 허위사실 유포로 고소" views+
- BTS' Jungkook headed to Paris as MTV EMA nominee, performer views+
- BTS Jungkook's star views+