"As Rhyu Si-min Put It, 'Insane Act'" – Jang Dong-hyuk Slams Group Pushing to Drop Indictment Against President Lee

[Financial News] People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk on the 23rd sharply criticized the 104 Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers who formed a "group calling for the withdrawal of the indictment against President Lee Jae-myung," saying, "To borrow the words of liberal commentator Rhyu Si-min, it is, in a word, an 'insane act.'"
At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Jang said, "The court has already ruled that the president’s immunity from criminal prosecution does not cover the maintenance of an existing indictment, but only the filing of a new one. That is why it also said investigations are possible," reiterating his criticism.
He argued, "They used the immunity from criminal prosecution stipulated in the Constitution to bring the trial to a halt, but the legal basis for that has completely disappeared," and insisted, "The trial of President Lee Jae-myung must resume."
He went on, "Because of that judicial determination, the resumption of the trial is now just around the corner, so I can fully understand why DPK lawmakers are resorting to this kind of behavior in their desperation," but added, "I hope they will think once more about how the public will view this."
Regarding the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruling that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff measures were unlawful, Jang said, "Tariff negotiations have entered a new phase. This time, I hope the president will not hide behind social networking service (SNS) posts, but instead step to the forefront of the tariff talks and show the public what a president should look like," adding, "The president is not a political influencer. At least in these tariff negotiations, I expect to see a completely different approach so the issue can be resolved without causing public concern."
On Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek’s protest to United States Forces Korea (USFK) after a USFK fighter jet, during training over the Yellow Sea, confronted a Chinese fighter jet, Jang said, "I must again ask who the main enemy is for the Lee Jae-myung administration, President Lee Jae-myung, and the defense minister," expressing concern that "when the Lee Jae-myung administration bases its policy on the presumed goodwill of North Korea, security becomes the most vulnerable."
As for the motion to arrest independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who is suspected of taking bribes in connection with Democratic Party nominations and is scheduled to face a vote on the 24th, Jang said, "It has taken far, far too long," and stressed, "The investigation into Representative Kim Byung-ki is still stuck in place."
He added, "The investigation into allegations that Representative Jeon Jae-soo received money and valuables from the Unification Church has effectively come to a halt," and argued, "The only answer is a special counsel investigation, yet the DPK is refusing it. The price of delaying the truth will be the public’s harsh judgment."
haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter