Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae speaks while holding prepared remarks calling for the death penalty during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
The Seoul Central District Court's decision to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment on insurrection charges drew sharply divided reactions from political parties, with the ruling bloc criticizing the verdict while the opposition largely remained silent.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) strongly criticized the court’s decision, denouncing the verdict as inadequate and out of step with public sentiment while directing sharp criticism at the judiciary.
“I believe the judiciary has shaken the foundations of justice by sentencing the ringleader of an insurrection that rocked the very foundations of the nation to life imprisonment rather than death,” DPK leader Jung Chung-rae said during an emergency meeting of the party’s Supreme Council at the National Assembly.
Expressing deep regret over the court’s decision, he added that it ignores the unarmed citizens who stood up against the Dec. 3 martial law forces and the peaceful protests that defended democracy.
“The public will view the judiciary’s decision to effectively defer a historic reckoning as deeply inadequate and unsatisfactory,” Jung added.
He stressed that the party would remain vigilant as the case proceeds.
“With the appellate and Supreme Court rulings still ahead, we will not let down our guard and will closely monitor the process with unwavering attention until a final verdict is reached,” he said.
Park Soo-hyun, the party’s chief spokesperson, also criticized the ruling in an official statement, saying the court had set an unprecedented and troubling standard in Korean judicial history by suggesting that even the leader of an insurrection could receive leniency because of his age and clean record. He added that the judiciary will not escape public backlash.
A response at the National Assembly level was also signaled. DPK Rep. Kim Yong-min, the vice chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said that the Assembly will move swiftly to pass a bill banning pardons for insurrection-related crimes.
Source: Korea Times News
