▲ Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the general meeting of lawmakers held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 27th.
On the 27th, the People Power Party expressed confidence that “judicial justice will be realized” following the Democratic Party’s leader, Lee Jae-myung, who was sentenced to two years in prison in the second trial on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. They urged for a prompt ruling.
At the emergency meeting held at the National Assembly today, floor leader Kwon Seong-dong stated, “If the sentence is confirmed as is, leader Lee will be deprived of his eligibility to run for elections for the next ten years,” adding, “Leader Lee will be judged by the law according to the ways of the world.”
Kwon noted that “the main issue in this case is whether leader Lee knew the late Kim Moon-ki and whether there was pressure from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport regarding the change of usage of the development site in Baekhyeon-dong.” He pointed out that “leader Lee has consistently maintained unreasonable lies on these charges.”
Kwon sarcastically remarked, “How can he claim not to know the late Kim Moon-ki with whom he went on a 9-night, 12-day overseas trip, playing golf, fishing, and taking photos? He might as well say he doesn’t know me, Kwon Seong-dong, who studied with him in the study group during university.”
He further criticized, “Even the witness requested by leader Lee clearly testified that no pressure was applied regarding the Ministry of Land, Transport, and Infrastructure’s alleged intimidation against Seongnam City,” and said that Lee’s claim of being pressured by the Ministry is mere sophistry.
Kwon stated, “Leader Lee is currently standing trial in 5 different courts with 12 charges from 8 cases,” and remarked, “Lee’s political direction isn’t a left click or a right click but a ‘guilt click.'”
In a commentary, floor spokesperson Seo Ji-young criticized, “Leader Lee envisions getting an exoneration by ‘ceasing trials’ if he becomes president, but that is nothing more than a delusion beyond legal common sense,” and added, “He must be judged in the court of reality for the crime of trying to deceive the people for his ‘presidential ambitions.'”
Spokesperson Seo also raised suspicions about the sentencing date for Lee’s Public Official Election Act violation case being set for the 26th of next month, remarking, “It is almost a month after the plea hearing. It is too late, suggesting that the court’s decision might have considered political circumstances, such as the ‘presidential impeachment trial’ schedule.”
(Photo = Yonhap News)