Lee Jae-myung "Yoon, saying nothing happened... Get a grip"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 5th directly criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol's remark on the day of the emergency martial law that "nothing happened." Listing the day of the emergency martial law and the subsequent crisis phases, Lee said, "Serious incidents occurred, and those serious incidents are still ongoing."

Before concluding the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Lee pointed out, "It seems that the People Power Party, Yoon Suk-yeol, the defendant of the rebellion, and related parties are trying to trivialize this rebellion incident, that is, the military coup incident themselves," adding, "By saying things like 'just shadows' or 'nothing happened,' it feels like they are trying to turn it into something like 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'" He continued, "They had a clear intention to completely destroy democracy in this country and to scheme for permanent rule under military government," warning, "In the process, the human rights of the people would have been destroyed, the country's economy would have collapsed, and this country would have fallen into a backward state ruled by soldiers."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

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He mentioned former Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won and others preparing baseball bats, pliers, and nippers, pointing out, "They tried to create such a serious country where anyone could be caught, tortured, arrested without a warrant, detained without knowing where they were taken."

Lee said, "(If the emergency martial law had succeeded) Kim Geon-hee and Yoon Suk-yeol couple would have enjoyed eternal rule and glory, and the People Power Party that clings to them would have enjoyed power, but tens of millions of our people would have lived miserable lives," adding, "Is this a joke?"

Lee said, "Countless citizens who stayed up all night and still suffer from anxiety disorders, visiting psychiatric hospitals for fear that they might return, are they not victims at all?" and "Even when the exchange rate soared and all citizens' assets in this country lost 7%, was nothing happening?"

He evaluated that democracy was preserved thanks to the fact that lawmakers gathered at the National Assembly by climbing over walls on the day of the emergency martial law and the military's de facto insubordination. Lee said, "It was fortunate that frontline martial law commanders, martial law soldiers, and troops dispatched to the scene effectively disobeyed orders according to their conscience and endured to protect democracy," adding, "It was fortunate that the Capital Defense Command blocked helicopter access to Yeouido for 40 minutes, that live ammunition was not issued to soldiers, and that bayonets were not fixed." He said, "If even a single gunshot had been heard or a single fistfight had started among them, this country would have completely fallen into a dark society," and "Thanks to countless coincidences, we are recovering like this."

Lee said, "But was nothing happening?" and urged, "I hope people come to their senses."

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