Won Hee-ryong "Shocked by Yoon Seok-yeol's Remarks? Democratic Party's Understanding of Rule of Law is Pitiful"

Prosecutor General Yoon's Remarks on "Rejecting Dictatorship and Totalitarianism" Stir Controversy

Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol said at the new prosecutors' oath-taking ceremony, "True democracy is to reject dictatorship and totalitarianism disguised as democracy." Amid differing reactions from ruling and opposition parties, Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong targeted Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Jeong-hoon on the 4th, saying he was "shocked."

Governor Won wrote on his Facebook that "I was truly shocked by Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Jeong-hoon's remark that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's statement that liberal democracy is the rule of law is shocking."

Earlier, Lawmaker Shin said, "Whether the claim that 'liberal democracy is the true democracy' (by Prosecutor General Yoon) is the correct expression is a separate issue," adding, "That bold idea is very shocking. In a democratic society, only conscience governs individuals, and common sense governs society."

In response, Governor Won said, "It is a frightening idea. It outright denies the rule of law. And it is ignorant talk. The law embodies conscience and common sense," adding, "Democracy is the rule of law. The rule of law prevents conscience and common sense from being arbitrarily defined and arbitrary governance."

He further explained, "What the Moon Jae-in administration and the Democratic Party are doing now is governance by law. This is the exclusive domain of dictatorial regimes and totalitarians," and said, "A system where the king is the law is called a monarchy, and a system where the law is king is called a republic. Democracy is a system that rejects personal rule and chooses the rule of law. This is common sense about democracy and the rule of law."

He added, "Those who say the rule of law is a frightening idea are people who have committed many crimes. This shows how dangerous and pathetic the Moon Jae-in administration and the Democratic Party's understanding of democracy and the rule of law is."

Meanwhile, on the 3rd, Prosecutor General Yoon said at the new prosecutors' oath-taking ceremony held at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, "We must not overlook corruption and power-type irregularities but confront them boldly," adding, "We must strictly exercise the law enforcement authority entrusted by the people, keeping in mind that all citizens are potential stakeholders and victims of corruption and power-type irregularities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.