Ahn Cheol-soo: "Passage of the Public Corruption Investigation Office Act More Unfortunate Than Park's Impeachment... Opening a Dictatorship Paradise"

"Most Severe Damage to Democracy Since 1987"
"Moon Administration Seems to Dream of Long-Term Rule Like October Yushin"
"Opposition Must Engage in Noncompliance Struggle Against Dictatorial Regime"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, stated on the 10th regarding the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Office (PCC) Act, “Today is the most serious day since 1987 in which democracy has been damaged and the meaning of democratization in the Republic of Korea has faded,” adding, “It will be recorded as a more unfortunate day than the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye four years ago.”

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Ahn said, “This is the moment when the dictatorship paradise and the hell of checks and balances under the Democratic Party of Korea’s reign begins,” and added, “The Moon Jae-in administration appears to be dreaming of long-term rule like the October Yushin through the control of power institutions and the neutralization of opposition parties.”

He pointed out, “When the PCC Act was first passed, what did the ruling party say? They appeased the opposition and deceived the public by saying that political neutrality would be secured because the opposition’s veto power was guaranteed, and that no one could appoint at will if the opposition opposed. But this is the result,” adding, “They now deny everything they emphasized as reform whenever they open their mouths, so the current administration can be aptly called the incarnation of lies.”

He continued, “Is destroying parliamentary democracy through rushed legislative dictatorship and subordinating national power institutions to a specific political faction what you call reform? You who often claim to be democratization activists and pretend to be guardians of justice, how can you trample on the opposition and turn the spirit of parliamentary democracy into scrap paper?” He added, “I am outraged by the anti-democratic behavior of those who call themselves democratization activists.”

Ahn said, “No matter how beautiful a flower is, it cannot last more than ten days, and no matter how powerful a power is, it cannot last more than ten years. Looking back at history, winning does not mean winning forever, and losing does not mean losing forever,” emphasizing, “Those who try to turn back the wheel of history will inevitably be crushed under that wheel.”

Ahn stated, “Now that this ruthless administration has crossed the line, the opposition has no choice but to engage in disobedience and strong struggle against the dictatorship based on its own innovation,” adding, “We will watch with wide-open eyes who is appointed as the head of the PCC and which unqualified Red Guards are appointed as prosecutors. And they must pay dearly for trampling on the rule of law, destroying democracy, and betraying the people who hoped for a country worthy of the name. I will take responsibility for leading that charge.”

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