The day after Lee Jae-myeong’s first trial prison sentence
Outside rally for the resignation of the five-party government
The five opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, the Democratic Party of Korea, and the Progressive Party, held an outdoor rally near Gwanghwamun in Seoul on the 16th for the ‘3rd National Action Day to condemn Kim Kun-hee and Yoon Seok-yeol’s corruption in state affairs and call for a special prosecutor. This was the first rally held after Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party, was sentenced to loss of his seat as a member of the National Assembly (one year in prison and two years of probation) in the first trial on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.
As the last speaker at the rally on this day, Representative Lee took the microphone and spoke, saying, “I salute Jae-myung Lee for his vibrant life.”
He said, “The people are the owners of the Democratic Republic of Korea. “All the power in this country should be used solely for the people,” he said. “But it seems that the people are not the owners of this country. “At some point, it seems like the owners of this country changed to Yoon Seok-yeol, Kim Geon-hee, and Myung Tae-gyun,” he claimed.
He continued, “All the power, honor, and splendor they exercise ultimately came from us, and that even the money we enjoy while playing emperor golf was money we earned by taking the village bus early in the morning and shedding blood and sweat, and that we will never betray those who betrayed the people. “Let’s clearly show that we will not forgive.”
He said, “Shouldn’t the people now proudly reclaim their position as the masters of the Republic of Korea? “It is time to stand up resolutely to regain the position of the owner,” he said, emphasizing, “It is time to join hands and protect the democratic republic, the democracy of this country, and the peace and future of this country with our own hands.”
Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, who previously took the podium, said of Representative Lee’s guilty verdict, “It is a crazy ruling by a crazy regime,” and “It is a political ruling that has contributed to the removal of political enemies of the dictatorial prosecution regime.” He said, “Legal engineers are violating the people’s sovereignty and making a mockery of the rule of law,” and “I am angry at the political ruling that goes beyond the people’s legal feelings and common sense. “Is this a country?” he pointed out.
At the same time, he emphasized, “(President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife) are under the illusion that if they just eliminate Representative Lee’s political life, they will not be punished,” and added, “We will unite even bigger and
The rally on this day was attended by leaders and lawmakers of the five opposition parties, city/provincial party committee chairs, regional committee chairs, party members, and supporters. As of 4 p.m., 3,000 members of the Democratic Party, 500 members of the Fatherland Innovation Party, 200 members of the Progressive Party, and 2,500 candlelight activists gathered. After the rally, they joined the ‘Citizen’s March to reject Yoon Seok-yeol’s acceptance of Kim Kun-hee’s special prosecutor’s acceptance of special prosecutor Kim Kun-hee’s investigation and investigation of state affairs corruption’ organized by the pro-opposition civil society group ’National Emergency Action to Reject the Right to Veto’.
In the nature of a counter-rally, conservative groups such as the Liberty Unification Party and the National Security Citizens’ Association held a ’Gwanghwamun National Revolutionary Rally calling for Lee Jae-myung’s arrest’ near Gwanghwamun.
Hyewon Lee, Donga.com Reporter [email protected]
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How are the legal proceedings against Lee Jae-myung impacting public opinion and political dynamics in South Korea?
Rest’ at the same time, demonstrating the deep political divide in the country. During this concurrent rally, conservative officials criticized the opposition parties and expressed their support for President Yoon Seok-yeol’s administration.
As tensions escalated, both rallies saw heightened emotions, with supporters passionately voicing their opinions. The opposition rally focused on issues of corruption and governance, demanding accountability from the ruling party, while the conservative rally denounced what they perceived as political showmanship and called for justice against Lee Jae-myung.
The contrasting narratives on the governmental actions and the legal proceedings against Lee Jae-myung underscored the significant polarization in South Korean politics. With calls for a special prosecutor by the opposition and simultaneous demands for legal accountability for Lee Jae-myung from conservative factions, the events revealed the ongoing struggle for power and influence in the country’s political landscape.
Further discussions and public reactions to the rallies are likely to unfold in the coming days as both sides prepare for more protests and political maneuvering ahead of future elections. The division within public sentiment reflects broader concerns over governance, political stability, and the accountability of political leaders in South Korea.