South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung issued a stark warning to acting President Choi Sang-mok, stating, “You could be arrested on the spot for dereliction of duty, so watch yourself.” Lee accused Choi of violating a Constitutional Court ruling by failing to appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as the court’s ninth justice, calling it an unconstitutional dereliction of duty. “From this moment on, any police officer or citizen can arrest you as a flagrant offender,” Lee declared.
Such remarks—telling someone that “anyone can arrest you, so be careful”—sound more like a line from a crime thriller than political discourse. This level of rhetoric, marked by overt threats, is unacceptable toward any individual, let alone an acting president. Yet, the leader of the main opposition party, which controls the National Assembly, is making such statements openly. Lee is also the frontrunner in presidential election polls, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Lee attended a DP meeting at the party’s protest camp in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, wearing a bulletproof vest, citing security concerns. At the same time, he warned the acting president to “watch himself,” expressing frustration that the impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk-yeol were not unfolding as he had hoped.
In January, when Choi requested revisions to a special prosecutor bill to remove unconstitutional elements, Lee labeled him “the main culprit behind instability in South Korea.” He repeatedly threatened to impeach him, accusing Choi of “treasonous acts.” Lee has also been pressuring the Constitutional Court to expedite Yoon’s removal.
DP floor leader Park Chan-dae stated that the party remains “sincere” in its intention to impeach Choi. If the DP proceeds with the impeachment, Choi would be suspended from duty, following Yoon and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. This would leave the country under an unprecedented “acting president-for-acting president” leadership, raising serious concerns about governance. Such instability would inevitably harm South Korea’s credibility and credit ratings.
Lee and his party appear to be acting out of urgency, seemingly intent on advancing the presidential election timeline before the Supreme Court delivers its final ruling on his election law violations. With the appellate court decision set for Mar. 26, the DP is making increasingly aggressive moves to secure a Constitutional Court ruling beforehand. Lee’s warning to “watch yourself” is part of this effort. While he has sought to delay his own legal proceedings as much as possible, he is demanding the Yoon impeachment trial proceed at full speed.
Impeachment trials must prioritize legal soundness and procedural integrity over political expediency. Openly threatening the acting president and pressuring the Constitutional Court to influence its ruling is itself a violation of constitutional principles. Such actions undermine national stability and social cohesion. While Lee has publicly stated that he would accept the court’s decision, his conduct suggests otherwise.
