On the 19th, the People Power Party criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for his warning to Choi Sang-mok, the acting deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, stating, “Anyone from the public can arrest Acting President Choi as a flagrant offender. Be careful.” The party demanded the withdrawal and apology for what they called “shocking and absurd remarks.”
Senior spokesperson Shin Dong-wook commented that Lee seems to have lost his composure due to the impending legal risks of his upcoming trial. He noted that Lee’s threats to the acting deputy president for not complying with his wishes were shocking, asking whether the frequent use of impeachment and special investigations of the past were insufficient.
Spokesperson Shin argued that a party leader’s threats towards the head of the executive branch are an extreme overreach that incites public anger and conflict. He emphasized that Lee’s crossing of the line only escalates public outrage against the Democratic Party, reinforcing the notion that “Lee Jae-myung is unfit.”
Former representative Han Dong-hoon also criticized Lee on Facebook, likening his words to those used by gangsters.
Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo accused Lee of being a seditious criminal who abused his powers 29 times to paralyze state institutions. He criticized Lee for attempting coercion to appoint an anti-establishment legal figure, Ma Eun-hyuk, as a constitutional judge and for threatening Choi with arrest for dereliction of duty.
Hong further suggested that Lee should stop causing a fuss and just go to jail, sarcastically referring to Lee’s claims of assassination threats as a show and stating that Lee’s safest place would be prison.
Earlier that day, at a field meeting in Gwanghwamun, Lee criticized Acting President Choi for not appointing Ma Eun-hyuk as a constitutional judge, accusing him of ongoing dereliction of duty and warning him to be cautious as anyone could arrest him for it.