Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, urged President Lee Jae-myung on the 10th to "accept the progress of the trial" regarding the indefinite postponement of the retrial of the violation of the Public Official Election Act case.
The floor leader held the last policy meeting before the election of the next floor leader on this morning at the National Assembly and emphasized, "If everything he revealed during the election process was nothing more than manipulation and he has no crime, he should declare that he will accept the progress of the trial."
He refuted the Seoul High Court's postponement of the retrial of President Lee's violation of the Public Official Election Act, stating it was a measure under Article 84 of the Constitution. Article 84 of the Constitution stipulates that "the President shall not be criminally prosecuted while in office, except in cases of insurrection or treason."
The floor leader criticized, "This means that 'it is impossible to prosecute for a new trial,' but it certainly does not mean that existing trials pending in court must also be halted." He added, "If judges interpret the Constitution arbitrarily, the consistency and authority of the judiciary will be severely undermined."
He requested the prosecution to "appeal this case with a firm stance to receive the Supreme Court's interpretation of Article 84 of the Constitution" and urged the Supreme Court by saying, "Ignoring the arbitrary judgment of the lower court goes beyond mere irresponsibility; it encourages the collapse of the judicial system."
Regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's efforts to push the so-called "President Trial Suspension Law," he criticized, "Creating a law solely for Lee Jae-myung, who is the only criminal defendant receiving five unprecedented trials in Korea's constitutional history, shakes the judicial system." The "President Trial Suspension Law" is a proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act that aims to suspend ongoing criminal trials upon the election of a president.
The floor leader also stated, "We cannot help but question whether a government of 'criminals in power' with both the president and the prime minister as ex-convicts is the identity of the new government."
He noted, "Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok was indicted for allegedly receiving 200 million won from SK while running for Seoul mayor in 2002, receiving a sentence of 8 months in prison, 2 years of probation, a 200 million won fine, and a 10-year deprivation of eligibility for election." He continued, "Moreover, he was confirmed to have received 720 million won in illegal political funds from an acquaintance in 2007, resulting in a fine of 6 million won, a 720 million won fine, and a 5-year deprivation of eligibility for election," adding, "This is a case that would lead any ordinary politician to retire from politics."
He further pointed out, "Kim was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison for orchestrating the occupation of the American Cultural Center during the student movement in the 1980s. How could such a person serve as prime minister and strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance?" He also added about Kang Hoon, the chief secretary, that he is "a three-time offender for charges including unlicensed driving."
The floor leader remarked about Lee Jong-seok, the nominee for the National Intelligence Service director, stating, "Because of the Sunshine Policy designed by this candidate, North Korea was given time to develop nuclear weapons, and as a result, we live under the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons."
He added, "If the president refers to U.S. troops as 'occupying forces' and is implicated in the illegal remittance to North Korea, then if the prime minister is an ex-convict from anti-American struggles, and the NIS director is a pro-North Korean figure, how can the U.S. trust the firm maintenance of the Korea-U.S. alliance?" He urged that one hopes to reconsider why such a reaction from the White House is seen as concern over President Lee Jae-myung's election.