About 30 members from the Institute of Health Studies & Human Rights and the Daegu Struggle Headquarters held a rally in front of the National Assembly from 2 PM to 4 PM on the 12th, demanding "Lee Jae-myung, stand trial." © Hanmi Ilbo

A rally titled "Lee Jae-myung, Stand Trial" was held in front of the National Assembly Building in Yeouido, Seoul. 

Approximately 30 members from the Institute of Health Studies & Human Rights (Bo&in, Representative Kim Mun-hee) and the Daegu Struggle Headquarters (Daetubon, Standing Representative Choi Young-ho) held a rally in front of the National Assembly from 2 PM to 4 PM on the 12th, demanding "Lee Jae-myung, stand trial."

During the rally, hosted by Oh Kyung-young, a member of the Anti-Corruption and Fraudulent Election Prevention Group (Bubangdae), Representative Kim Mun-hee, who spoke as a presenter, stated, "It has only been half a year since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office, but the direction of state affairs has already exceeded dangerous levels, with risks emerging in various areas of the economy, diplomacy, and security."

"The nation is in difficulty, yet spending is at an all-time high."

From left, Choi Young-ho, Standing Representative of the Daegu Struggle Headquarters; Oh Kyung-young, member of the Anti-Corruption and Fraudulent Election Prevention Group; and Kim Mun-hee, Representative of the Institute of Health Studies & Human Rights. © Hanmi Ilbo

Furthermore, Representative Kim stated, "National debt is rapidly increasing, raising international concerns about fiscal sustainability, and the IMF also issued a warning in its report this year, emphasizing fiscal soundness for several countries, including Korea. Despite this, the Lee Jae-myung government has prepared next year's budget to exceed 750 trillion won."

Representative Kim Mun-hee continued her speech.

"Tax revenues are declining, controversies surrounding foreign exchange reserves are growing, and the national finances are clearly burdened. Yet, the government continues to spend at an unprecedented level. The concern that the nation is on the brink of a precipice is by no means an exaggeration.

Even more serious problems are appearing in the areas of diplomacy and trade. You may recall the protests by the left-wing when they criticized automobile tariffs as 'selling out the nation.'

Now, despite the imposition of a new 15% tariff, they remain silent or even praise it. From the public's perspective, the confusion only grows as they cannot understand what the criteria are or what logic is being applied. Diplomacy without principles ultimately returns to burdening the people.

The same applies to security issues. The left-wing, who once criticized a defense cost-sharing of 1 trillion won annually as excessive and an act of selling out the nation, are now silent even though they must share the burden for five years, amounting to nearly 10 trillion won annually.

If 1 trillion won was selling out the nation, what is 10 trillion won? Is this normal state operation? If we give away, concede, and sacrifice like this, what will be left for the Republic of Korea?

Look at the reality of our youth. They are giving up on marriage due to rising real estate prices, low birth rates are worsening, and the job market is becoming increasingly unstable. Yet, Lee Jae-myung said, 'We cannot control housing and utility prices.'"

Has any president in history ever said they would abandon such core livelihood issues of the nation? Is this the result of appointing a president with four previous convictions—a declaration of such irresponsibility? While the stability of housing and economy, the fundamentals of people's lives, are collapsing, there is no responsible solution, direction, or will visible.

Will a KOSPI of 4000 improve the lives of our youth? Stocks are not an investment where everyone can make money. As countless people warn, it is a dangerous market where one can lose not one house, but three, if they make mistakes.

Despite this, the government continues to encourage irresponsible investment among young people. While past administrations were criticized for creating casinos, the current government is pushing young people into the casino of stocks. Policies should protect the people, not drive them into danger.

And a more important issue: judicial justice. When Lee Jae-myung was the governor of Gyeonggi Province, he said, "Even the incumbent president must be judged if they commit a crime." However, he himself is delaying his trial and evading responsibility. If all citizens are equal before the law, power cannot be an exception.

If the president does not stand trial, they have no right to tell the people to abide by the law. The nation falters the moment the fundamental principles of the judiciary are undermined. The happiness of the people is built upon justice. This is why Lee Jae-myung must stand trial."

Representative Kim Mun-hee had continued a six-day hunger strike in front of the National Assembly at the end of November without even a windbreaker, and collapsed, leading to hospitalization. She developed acute enteritis due to the hunger strike. On this day, she came out to the streets again without having fully recovered.

Representative Kim raised her voice, stating that she would continue the rallies in front of the National Assembly until Lee Jae-myung stands trial.

"Only when the judgment of the law is fair can state affairs be fair."

About 30 members from the Institute of Health Studies & Human Rights and the Daegu Struggle Headquarters held a rally in front of the National Assembly from 2 PM to 4 PM on the 12th, demanding "Lee Jae-myung, stand trial." © Hanmi Ilbo

In his subsequent speech, Choi Young-ho, Standing Representative of the Daegu Struggle Headquarters, exclaimed, "If a vicious cycle of collapsing defense, collapsing economy, soaring real estate, and devastated livelihoods continues, we cannot pass this nation on intact to the next generation. The concern that the Republic of Korea is exposed to the risk of communization is no longer mere exaggeration but is being accepted as a realistic warning by an increasing number of citizens."

He further emphasized, "Concerns that taxpayer money is being used for pro-China education, coupled with reports of various pro-government organizations operating in strange directions, are further increasing public distrust."

Choi's speech continued.

"We cannot overcome this crisis by merely shouting patriotism. Only acting citizens can protect the nation. It is not an illusion to say that if just 6,000 people in Daegu, with a population of 2.3 million, come forward, the region will change, and if even 0.1% of the citizens, not 3.5%, move, the country will be corrected.

History has repeatedly proven that a small number of courageous citizens saved the nation. The issue is the 'courage of the people.' How can the country change if we lack the courage to even hold up a Taegeukgi?

What we are shouting is not a mere slogan. 'If Lee Jae-myung goes to jail, the people will be happy!' This is a cry to establish principles of judicial justice, responsibility in state governance, and the restoration of people's livelihoods.

If one has committed a wrong, everyone must be judged by the law, and only when fair state affairs are conducted upon that foundation can the people rest assured and dream of tomorrow.

Our actions are like supplying a little oxygen to the Republic of Korea, which is currently in the intensive care unit. The right that does not act is not the right. The conservative that does not act is not conservative. The citizen that does not act cannot protect the nation.

Fellow citizens, it is time to save our nation not with words, but with actions. Please come forward together for the Republic of Korea, for the next generation, and for the freedom of this land. If the nation collapses, there is no hope. But if we act, the Republic of Korea will surely survive. We will fight to the end with you."

Standing Representative Choi has been active as a member of Bubangdae since the 4/15 fraudulent election to eradicate election fraud, and is currently leading Daetubon as its standing representative. Along with Daetubon members, he has been raising funds under the slogan "Miracle of Ten Thousand Won" to support right-wing rallies nationwide.

Hanmi Ilbo Editorial Department