Kim Ki-hyun and Lee Jae-oh: "The Imprisonment of MB and Park Is Political Retaliation... Demanding Reflection Is Insulting"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] On the 4th, Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, said, "The cases of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye (who are imprisoned) are political revenge trials," and called the ruling Democratic Party's mention of pardon discussions based on reflection "an insulting remark." Lee Jae-oh, senior advisor of the People Power Party, also criticized, saying, "That's something to say to petty criminals," and "Those who should reflect are the ones who were caught."

On the same day, Kim appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' in the morning and said, "Not many people remember the charges against former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye," making such remarks.

He argued, "In the case of former President Lee, the issue is who owns DAS, but whether the company managing DAS belongs to the president or his siblings, what does that have to do with the people?" He added, "Is this a matter that warrants a 17-year prison sentence for an 80-year-old person?" He further stated, "Looking at the details, there is a strong doubt whether such a sentence should be imposed," and "If you consider it that way, if what the current power is doing is properly revealed later, they would serve 50 years in prison."

This essentially means he cannot accept the trial results. Lee, the advisor, also said on the same radio show that day, "People who support the Moon Jae-in administration may not think so, but those who oppose the Moon administration think they are unjustly imprisoned due to political revenge."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

When asked by the host whether the Supreme Court ruling had been made, the advisor said, "You can't say the Supreme Court ruling was wrong or incorrect, but a ruling is a ruling, and being wronged by political revenge is still being wronged, that's what people think," adding, "We're not kids, and since the Supreme Court has ruled, who would say it was wrong?"

Regarding the ruling party's claim that a national consensus should be formed through reflection, he sharply responded, "From the president's standpoint, if reflection is to be made, the ones who arrested them should reflect, not the ones who were arrested," and "That's something only petty criminals say." He continued, "The parties involved feel wronged just by having spent time in prison, and if they are to be released, it should be done graciously; what nonsense is this?" He added, "No administration in history has ever told those holding the power to reflect."

Opinions were divided on why the party leader brought up the pardon issue from the New Year.

Kim said, "A considerable amount of time has passed since he became the leader, but leadership has not developed. Even amid the conflict between Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae, he failed to play a proper role," and "Because he couldn't demonstrate proper leadership, he tried to raise some issue in a hurry as a way to differentiate himself from the current president."

He criticized, "He said he would propose it to the president but is now slowly backing off, and the issue is quietly disappearing like a farce," and "Did he treat former presidents like toys? How can the ruling party leader make such irresponsible remarks at the beginning of the year?"

On the other hand, the advisor said, "The fact that the leader spoke after considerable thought is very commendable," but added, "Whether it was done with political intent or not, the ruling party leader should be sincerely thinking about national unity, and that should be considered first."

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