People Power Party Takes to Streets on National Foundation Day, Citing National Security and Judiciary: "Lee Jae Myung Out"

On National Foundation Day, October 3, the People Power Party leadership took to the streets and launched an offensive against the Lee Jae Myung government, citing national security and judicial issues such as the landmine explosion in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the abolition of the prosecutors' office. Some party leaders raised the level of their campaign against the government by chanting slogans such as "Lee Jae Myung out."
According to Newsis and other outlets, the People Power Party held the 'National Action Rally for Judging the Lee Jae Myung Administration, Livelihood Recovery and National Security Protection' near Sungnyemun Gate in Jung District, Seoul, that afternoon.
The rally was attended by party leaders, including Jang Dong-hyuk, the party leader; Chung Jeom-sik, the floor leader; Jeong Hee-yong, the secretary-general; Im Lee-ja, the policy committee chair; and Park Jun-tae, the chief of staff. About 60 sitting lawmakers, non-lawmaker local party committee chairs and party members also took part.
It was the first large-scale outdoor rally held by the People Power Party in central Seoul outside the National Assembly in about a year, since September last year.
The party leadership focused on national security issues, including the recent landmine explosion in the DMZ.
Supreme Council member Shin Dong-wook took the podium and said, "A few days ago, the ankle of the commander of our search battalion was blown off while he was searching the DMZ." He added, "President Lee Jae Myung could not say a single word about North Korea and mocked our nation's young blood by calling it an accidental incident."
Criticism also continued over the abolition of the SPO the previous day and the transition to a system centered on the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency.
Shin said, "We held a funeral for the prosecution service that had protected the judicial system of the Republic of Korea for 80 years." He claimed, "The government is burying public safety and destroying the judicial system."
Supreme Council member Kim Min-soo also criticized the government, citing economic and national security conditions. He said, "South Korea's economy is collapsing. We have become a country that cannot say a word even if North Korea crosses the armistice line."
Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja raised her voice at the government and ruling party, saying, "Shouldn't we be the ones running the affairs of state?"
Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won claimed, "As long as President Lee Jae Myung is in office, we have to live in fear." He continued, "Let's bring Lee Jae Myung down." He then proposed a chant to the attendees: "Let's shout, 'Lee Jae Myung out!'"
 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter