People Power Party Vows to Use Every Means Until End of President Lee's Term Over Trial Postponement

Warning to the Judiciary: "An Unconstitutional Republic Where Power Reigns Above the Rule of Law"
Targeting the Seoul High Court: "Withdraw the Arbitrary Interpretation of Article 84 of the Constitution"

The People Power Party declared a hardline response on June 9, stating, "We will use every means available to correct the Seoul High Court's unjust interpretation of Article 84 of the Constitution until the very last moment of President Lee Jaemyung's term," after the Seoul High Court postponed the retrial date for President Lee's violation of the Public Official Election Act.

Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, criticized at the party members' meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "President Lee was found guilty in principle by the Supreme Court for deceiving voters," and questioned, "Is it truly in line with judicial justice not to review this case simply because he became president?"

Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party members' meeting held at the National Assembly on June 9, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Chairman Kim stated, "The Seoul High Court has once again postponed the first trial date for President Lee's retrial on the violation of the Public Official Election Act. The reason cited was the presidential immunity under Article 84 of the Constitution," and argued, "Article 84 of the Constitution is a minimum safeguard to ensure the president can perform state affairs. It does not mean that criminal trials already in progress should be suspended."

He continued, "What is even more serious is the attitude of the Democratic Party," pointing out, "They say it is problematic to leave it to the discretion of individual judges and are pushing to amend the Criminal Procedure Act. Now that he has become president, they want to block the trial from happening altogether."

He also issued a warning to the courts, saying, "Stop watching the powers that be and open your eyes to justice. If not, this country will become an unconstitutional republic where power reigns above the Constitution and calculation prevails over the rule of law."

Regarding the party reform proposal he announced the previous day, he said, "I am well aware that there are various opinions and even criticism of me personally," and added, "Although I am the youngest among the lawmakers here, as the Emergency Response Committee Chairman, I will embrace the diverse perspectives of the members and infuse hope into them."

Kwon Seongdong, floor leader of the People Power Party who announced his resignation from the position, is speaking at a party meeting held at the National Assembly on June 9, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Kwon Seongdong, the recently resigned floor leader of the People Power Party, urged, "The Seoul High Court must immediately withdraw its arbitrary interpretation of Article 84 of the Constitution." He also described the first week of the Lee Jaemyung administration as "pursuing only the path of bulletproof dictatorship, not unity or people's livelihood."

Floor Leader Kwon raised his voice, saying, "Presiding Judge Lee Jaegwon of the Seoul High Court attached a personal, arbitrary constitutional interpretation under Article 84 as a condition. What judge has the authority to interpret the Constitution arbitrarily?"

He emphasized, "Even an elementary school student can understand that Article 84 of the Constitution means it is impossible to indict a sitting president for a new trial, not that ongoing trials must be suspended."

Regarding the Democratic Party's move to push for an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, he criticized, "They are trying to preemptively tie the hands of the judiciary with the noose of legislative dictatorship in preparation for a possible lame-duck period," and added, "This is the ultimate form of privileging one person?the president?by granting a special exemption to halt a trial."

On the fact that Lee Seungyeop, who previously served as President Lee's defense attorney, is being considered as a candidate for Constitutional Court Justice, he commented, "They are trying to take control of the Constitutional Court by placing their own ally there," and added, "Just as they used the National Assembly as a tool for legislative dictatorship, they now intend to use the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court as tools for judicial dictatorship."

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