Lee Jae-myung "Congratulations on the First Victory... The People Have Done It" [Full Text]

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 14th regarding the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, "It's the victory of the first round," adding, "We've only just crossed a small hill."

Lee, speaking on stage at the 'National Candlelight Rally for the Immediate Impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol' held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, said, "While we briefly celebrate our victory today, they are denying a country where the people are the masters and are constantly scheming to return to a country they dominate," expressing this sentiment.

Lee said, "It is the people who have achieved this. The people are writing a new history. Just as we achieved a bloodless candlelight revolution unprecedented in the world, we are creating a revolution of light again," and urged, "Let's show the world, the whole world, how healthy our democracy is and how great the people of Korea are this time."

Below is the full statement of Lee regarding the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon.

Dear citizens, you are proving that you are the masters of this country. Congratulations on the victory of the first round, and thank you. However, dear citizens, we have only just crossed a small hill. A bigger and more rugged mountain awaits us. While we briefly celebrate our victory today, they are denying a country where the people are the masters and are constantly scheming to return to a country they dominate. Shouldn't we join hands and move forward together to block their counterattack and achieve ultimate victory?

Throughout history and in our modern history, it has always been the vested interests that have put our national community in crisis. It was always the ordinary people in white clothes, and the common people and citizens of this country who saved the nation in crisis, wasn't it? Just as it was the people who saved the country from crisis, isn't it the citizens here with us today and the anxious citizens of Korea watching this scene who will overcome today's crisis?

Although we endure this painful moment due to impulsive, accidental, and inadequate individuals and forces, aren't we standing at the very historical site where our citizens, with beautiful lights, are proving that the people are the masters of this country and that we ourselves are the masters of history? We must move forward together towards a beautiful, yet painful and sad light, towards a new country, towards a hopeful world, and ultimately overcome it, shouldn't we?

It is the people who have achieved this. The people are writing a new history. Just as we achieved a bloodless candlelight revolution unprecedented in the world, we are creating a revolution of light again. Let's show the world, the whole world, how healthy our democracy is and how great the people of Korea are this time. Everyone.

Another big hurdle awaits us. They do not give up. They are plunging 52 million citizens of Korea into suffering and hardship for their small gains. If they had any conscience, they would not have declared that absurd martial law in broad daylight. Now, conflict and confrontation will begin again. The fight inside Yeouido will expand into clashes on the ground. We must not part ways, celebrating victory at this moment, but continue to fight together so that swift and strict accountability, the dismissal of Yoon Suk-yeol, can be achieved as quickly as possible, shouldn't we?

Finally, dear citizens, I offer my apologies and a pledge. I thought the world would change with the last candlelight revolution, but why hasn't my life changed even though the power has changed? Why hasn't this society changed? I remember the harsh criticism from those who questioned this, from so many citizens. Let's start a new democracy now, a democracy where the people directly participate, like the public opinion on the ground. As a citizen, as the master of this country, Korea, shouldn't you express what you want, what kind of world you desire, and create a new country where that is routinely reflected in politics?

Politics may seem like it's done by politicians, but ultimately it's done by the people. Let's create a true democratic state, a democratic republic of Korea, where the will of the people's sovereignty is routinely reflected, as a loyal tool of the people, faithfully executing the people's commands. Thank you.

Hong Min-seong, Hankyung.com reporter mshong@hankyung.com