Korean Political Party Calls for Action Against Lee Jae-myung's Candidacy

On May 27, 2025, 107 members of the People Power Party (국민의힘) issued a public appeal urging citizens to support candidate Kim Moon-soo (김문수) in the upcoming election on June 3. They warned that if Lee Jae-myung (이재명) of the Democratic Party (더불어민주당) becomes president, he would use both the legislative and executive branches as tools for his own protection and attempt to control the judiciary.

During a press conference at the National Assembly, the party's floor leader, Kwon Seong-dong (권성동), stated that the Democratic Party's recent decision to retract some controversial legislative proposals, such as the appointment of non-lawyers as Supreme Court justices and the increase of justices by 100, was insufficient. He criticized the party for still pursuing other legislative measures that could lead to authoritarian rule, calling it merely a superficial gesture.

The People Power Party members emphasized that the root cause of the push for authoritarian legislation lies with Lee Jae-myung himself, who, they argue, would be unable to complete his presidential term without undermining his ongoing legal battles. They pointed out that Lee has received a guilty verdict from the Supreme Court regarding violations of the Public Official Election Act, which could lead to a swift conclusion of his case this year.

They warned that if Lee were to become president, he could quickly face disqualification from office due to a confirmed guilty verdict, potentially leading to another early election. The ongoing trials related to Lee's alleged perjury, the Daejang-dong scandal, and other legal issues were also highlighted, with the party asserting that if he were elected, he would have to navigate these legal challenges while in office.

The members concluded that the only way to prevent national chaos is to ensure Lee's defeat in the election, framing the choice for voters as one between a president who might resign immediately and the risk of judicial destruction and authoritarianism.