Top office lambasts DP chair for spreading martial law rumors

Sep 03, 2024, 09:57 am

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Presidential spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul on Sept. 2, 2024./ Source: Yonhap News

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

The presidential office on Monday condemned the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung for spreading false rumors about the government allegedly planning to declare martial law.

The top office criticized the main opposition party, saying the DP is starting to resemble the totalitarian politics centered on instigation pursued by the Nazis and Joseph Stalin. “Is this part of a buildup to Yoon’s impeachment?” the office asked.

The presidential office has reportedly expressed a strong will not back down on the DP’s attempt to create public anxiety with rumors.

Presidential spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon condemned DP leader Lee, Rep. Kim Min-seok, and Rep. Park Sun-won, saying, “Groundless rumors are being heard again. There may be martial law in the minds of DP lawmakers, but we have no martial law plan in our minds.”

“The Yoon Suk-yeol government will respond firmly to the opposition bloc’s attempt to paralyze state affairs with groundless martial law rumors,” the spokesperson said.

This is the third time the presidential office has strongly criticized the DP’s martial law rumors as “irresponsible agitation.”

In a meeting with ruling People Power Party chair Han Dong-hoon on Sunday, DP chair Lee Jae-myung said that the presidential office plotted to arrest lawmakers in the event that martial law is proclaimed to prevent parliament from demanding the lifting of martial law.

Earlier on August 21, Supreme Council member Rep. Kim Min-seok claimed, “My reasonable conviction is that there is a trend of a martial law preparation operation,” citing the appointment of Defense Ministfirster Kim Yong-hyun and President Yoon Suk-yeol’s mention of “anti-state forces.”

#martial law #Lee Jae-myung #DP #PPP #rumors