Yoon Yeo-joon, the Senior Chief Campaign Director of the Democratic Party, called on May 7 for the Supreme Court to clearly state that it will not interfere in the presidential election. He emphasized this point during a Central Election Countermeasures Committee meeting held at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, urging the court to exercise careful consideration.
Yoon expressed concerns regarding the Supreme Court’s upcoming en banc decision on presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung’s violation of the Public Official Election Act. He stressed that the principles of democracy and the rule of law should respect each other and, when conflicts arise, a mutual step back might be needed.
He criticized the unfamiliar and difficult-to-understand procedures being applied only to a major presidential candidate, unlike the respectful approach followed by the Constitutional Court in the past. Yoon stated concerns about the judicial branch potentially overstepping and interfering with the public’s right to choose in the presidential election, a notion that some fear might happen more overtly than in past authoritarian regimes.
Yoon argued that the Supreme Court, having stirred up controversy, is responsible for alleviating it by changing the scheduled trial date during the election campaign period. Additionally, he reaffirmed the importance of the Supreme Court explicitly declaring no intention of meddling in the presidential elections.
He asserted that South Korea is at a critical juncture, with the election serving as a potential turning point for the nation’s future. Yoon further noted that the election represents a necessary regime change due to past grievances of betraying public opinion and maintaining a state of emergency.
Highlighting the Democratic Party’s role as a protector of constitutional order, Yoon criticized the opposition’s continued resistance and skepticism toward the election, noting a disconnect with the certain conservative members who denounce martial law. Yoon concluded that the Democratic Party’s vision for overwhelming government change aligns with the country’s best interests.