Opposition holds anti-special counsel rally: “Impeach Lee Jae Myung,” “The special counsel is an insurrection”

[Financial News] After the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) forced through the Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution at a plenary session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on the 6th, the People Power Party launched a large-scale street protest. Its resistance inside the Assembly, including a filibuster (unlimited debate), failed to produce results, so the party turned to a public-opinion campaign. Around 70 People Power Party lawmakers, party district committee chairs from outside the legislature, party officials and members gathered near Gyeongbokgung Station in Seoul, chanting “Repeal the Lee Jae Myung Escape Act (Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution)” and “Resume Lee Jae Myung’s trial,” among other slogans, in an effort to rally conservatives.
The People Power Party held a “People’s Rally Condemning the Forced Passage of the Unjust Law to Cancel Lee Jae Myung’s Trial” near Gyeongbokgung Station in Seoul on the 7th. Party leaders, including leader Jang Dong-hyeok, floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig, policy committee chair Im I-ja and secretary general Jeong Hui-yong, attended along with around 70 People Power Party lawmakers. The party estimated that 150,000 people attended, while police made a preliminary count of 6,000.
The rally was held to condemn the DPK’s passage of the Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution. The DPK pushed ahead with a parliamentary investigation and the special counsel bill, believing prosecutors had manipulated the investigation and prosecution of eight cases involving President Lee Jae Myung. These included allegations of development-related corruption in Daejang-dong, Wirye New Town and Baekhyeon-dong; Ssangbangwool’s illegal remittances to North Korea; subornation of perjury; allegations related to donations to Seongnam Football Club; and misuse of a corporate credit card. The bill also covered the statistical manipulation case under the Moon Jae-in administration and the Forced Repatriation of North Korean Fishermen Case. The special counsel’s authority to withdraw indictments, a key point of contention, was removed.
However, the People Power Party views the special counsel legislation as ultimately a law designed to have President Lee’s indictment dismissed. Rally attendees held up placards reading “Resuming Lee Jae Myung’s trial is the people’s order” and “Strongly condemn Lee Jae Myung’s self-exoneration.” They wore black mourning ribbons on their chests bearing the words “Democracy is dead” and “Resume the trial.”
Taking the podium, Jang Dong-hyeok called the Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution the “Lee Jae Myung Escape Act” and even brought up impeaching President Lee. He raised his voice, saying, “We must stop Lee Jae Myung’s dictatorial regime,” and, “For a president who has betrayed the people, impeachment is now the only answer.”
Addressing the judiciary, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, he said, “Resuming Lee Jae Myung’s trial is the only way to protect judicial independence, and that is the weight of the judicial robe and the conviction of a judge.” He urged them, “Do not hesitate; I hope you will resume Lee Jae Myung’s trial immediately.”
Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig called the forced passage of the Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution “insurrection.” “The special counsel bill to withdraw indictments investigates even cases that are currently on trial,” Jeong said. “This kind of blatant destruction of the Constitution is what constitutes insurrection. The president and the DPK are carrying out an insurrection against the Republic of Korea,” he criticized.
He went on to say, “If the DPK tries to erase the president’s trial, we must wipe out all of the DPK’s seats in the next general election,” adding, “I will make sure President Lee stands trial.”
The People Power Party will continue its on-the-ground campaign against the special counsel next week. On the 9th and 10th, it will hold an on-site Supreme Council meeting and a lawmakers’ caucus meeting in front of the Blue House. It has also been reported that lawmakers plan to stage one-person protests in areas including Daejang-dong. They are expected to call for the exercise of the veto (right to request reconsideration) on the special counsel bill in front of the Blue House. The party is also reportedly considering a boycott of the budget review process, as November is the National Assembly’s budget review period.
The DPK characterized the People Power Party’s street protest as a “political dispute” and criticized it, asking, “What are they taking to the streets for?” Spokesperson Son Myeong-su said on the 7th, “The special counsel investigation should lay out the truth unequivocally and ensure that nothing like this happens again,” and urged the party to “stop immediately misleading the public with political wrangling while ignoring the very purpose of the special counsel.”
Floor spokesperson Lee Joo-hee said on the 6th, “The People Power Party has abandoned budget deliberations to take to the streets—is it putting political prosecutors before the people?” She added, “Neither the truth nor the country’s finances can be subject to negotiation. What the People Power Party is doing is not a street protest but merely an ‘escape outside the Assembly’ to avoid the truth and responsibility.”
[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter