Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, remarked on the 19th towards Choi Sang-mok, the acting president, saying, “Anyone can arrest you as a flagrant offender for neglecting your duties, so be careful.” This prompted a wave of criticism from ruling party officials against him.
Earlier that day, during an on-site supreme committee meeting at Gwanghwamun Square, Lee criticized Choi for not appointing constitutional judge Ma Eun-hyeok, stating, “Acting President Choi Sang-mok is frequently engaging in acts that undermine the Constitution,” and “Choi seems to be above the Constitution.”
Lee further said, “This is not merely a legal duty neglect; it is neglecting the most important constitutional duty. This constitutes a flagrant offense of neglecting duty. At this very moment, he is committing the crime. Police or any citizen can arrest him immediately.”
He added, “It is unforgivable for a top public official, who should be a model for the nation, to openly and for a considerable time fail to fulfill constitutional obligations even after a constitutional court ruling. From this moment on, anyone could arrest Acting President Choi for neglect as a flagrant offender, so he should be cautious.”
In response, Shin Dong-wook, the chief spokesperson for the People’s Power Party, criticized Lee in a commentary, saying, “It seems that Lee has lost his reason as the judicial risk of his own trial is becoming a reality.” He added, “Now he is uttering shocking remarks akin to gangster threats to an acting president for not following their words.”
He continued, “The reckless behavior of a party leader intimidating the head of the executive branch and threatening him to be cautious will only incite public anger and conflict,” urging Lee to apologize.
Potential presidential candidates from the ruling party also joined the criticism. Former People’s Power Party leader Hong Joon-pyo remarked on Facebook, “‘Be careful’ is what gangsters say,” while Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo urged Lee to just “go to prison” as a safer option for him.
Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also questioned on Facebook if Lee was inciting his supporters to arrest the acting president or if he was inciting a terrorist attack on him. He added, “If someone like this becomes president, it would be truly terrifying for the country.”
Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong called Lee’s comment a “gangster-like threat,” stating, “As the date for his court ruling approaches, he no longer hides the ferocious gangster nature. It’s Lee’s unique fury for violent revenge.”
Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People’s Power Party, also joined the attacks on Lee during a press conference, stating, “Lee openly issued an outrageous threat against Acting President Choi,” and criticized Lee’s declarations.
Kwon remarked, “‘Anyone can arrest him as a flagrant offender for neglecting his duties,’ ‘I hope you’ll be cautious’—Can such statements come from the leader of the main opposition party? It seemed like something a terrorist group like IS might say. This is clearly illegal terror incitement, urging his supporters to commit acts of terror.”
He clarified, “The Constitutional Court only made a judgment regarding the disruption of parliamentary composition power about Ma Eun-hyeok’s nomination last December 31. It did not assert an immediate appointment necessity, meaning Acting President Choi is acting in accordance with the Constitutional Court’s intent.”
Kwon concluded by stating, “Lee Jae-myung himself is a flagrant offender of intimidation. He committed intimidation against the acting president, a crime akin to inciting rebellion,” and questioned what Lee was so afraid of that led to such extreme language, whether it was the Constitutional Court ruling or his trial. He urged Lee to end such disgraceful threats and declare acceptance of the Constitutional Court’s impeachment judgment.