Lee Jae-myung: "Dismissal of Sang-min Lee's Impeachment Is Not a Get-Out-of-Jail Free Card... Government and Ruling Party, Wake Up"

by Oh Jooyean

Published 26 Jul.2023 10:22(KST)

"'Impeachment Dismissed, but Saying Sorry Is the Right Thing to Do'"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the Constitutional Court's decision on the 26th to dismiss the impeachment trial request against Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, saying, "The dismissal of the impeachment does not mean there is no responsibility," and added, "The dismissal decision cannot be a carte blanche."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that morning, Lee said, "Are the lives of 159 citizens not precious? The cries of the bereaved families who had to scream again over the dismissal of the minister's impeachment by the Constitutional Court do not fade from my ears."

Lee emphasized, "The dismissal of the impeachment is not praise for the government’s performance. Whether the impeachment succeeds or not, the government was extremely incompetent and irresponsible, resulting in the deaths of 159 innocent citizens on the street," and added, "Even if there is a lack of legal fault or grounds for punishment or impeachment, a fault is still a fault." He continued, "Not just one citizen, but as many as 159 lost their lives due to the government's fault, yet no one takes responsibility or is held accountable," and questioned, "Was it so wrong to demand accountability?"

Lee directed his criticism at the government and ruling party, saying, "There is a limit even to shamelessness," and "There is a degree to audacity. If the impeachment is dismissed, the proper response should be, 'Although it was dismissed, we apologize, we will take responsibility, and we will strive harder to prevent such incidents in the future. How painful this must be for you.'"