"Unified Opposition from Metropolitan Conservative Candidates: Strong Resistance to 'Lee Jaemyung Self-Exoneration Special Prosecutor Bill'"

Emergency Joint Meeting of Metropolitan Area Gubernatorial Candidates
Attended by Oh Sehoon, Yoo Jungbok, Jo Eungcheon and Others
Plans to Launch a Nationwide Online Petition Campaign

With just 30 days remaining until the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3, candidates for metropolitan area governor from the conservative opposition have voiced unified opposition to the so-called "Special Act to Dismiss Charges Against President Lee Jaemyung." They criticized President Lee and the Democratic Party of Korea, referring to the move as a "judicial coup."

Yang Hyang-ja (from left), candidate for Governor of Gyeonggi Province of the People Power Party, Yoo Jeong-bok, candidate for Mayor of Incheon, Oh Se-hoon, candidate for Mayor of Seoul, along with Jo Eung-cheon, candidate for Governor of Gyeonggi Province of the Reform New Party, and Kim Jeong-cheol, candidate for Mayor of Seoul, attended an emergency joint meeting of metropolitan area local government candidates to prevent a judicial rebellion on May 4 at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, holding hands. The joint meeting was realized as metropolitan area local government candidates responded to candidate Jo's proposal. May 4, 2026 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the morning of May 4, an "Emergency Joint Meeting of Metropolitan Area Gubernatorial Candidates to Prevent a Judicial Coup" was held at the National Assembly. The meeting was attended by Oh Sehoon, candidate for Mayor of Seoul from the People Power Party; Yoo Jungbok, candidate for Mayor of Incheon from the People Power Party; Yang Hyangja, candidate for Governor of Gyeonggi Province from the People Power Party; Kim Jeongcheol, candidate for Mayor of Seoul from the Reform New Party; and Jo Eungcheon, candidate for Governor of Gyeonggi Province from the Reform New Party. Behind the meeting participants, a banner read, "No one can be the judge of their own case."

Through a joint statement, they declared, "We are launching a nationwide resistance movement to prevent a judicial coup," adding, "The special prosecutor bill submitted this time by the Democratic Party is a special law aimed at erasing all criminal charges against President Lee, and constitutes a grave act of undermining constitutional order for the benefit of a specific individual."

They continued, "If judicial justice is undermined and the nation becomes centered around a single president, the autonomy and fairness of local administration will also be threatened," and added, "For local election candidates who are responsible for the welfare and safety of residents to remain silent in such a situation would be a historic dereliction of duty."

They further stated, "We will employ every means necessary to defend constitutional order and judicial justice, and together with the people, we will launch a joint struggle to strongly oppose the 'Lee Jaemyung Self-Exoneration Special Prosecutor Bill' and the unconstitutional dismissal of charges."

In addition, they urged Democratic Party candidates Jeong Wonoh for Mayor of Seoul, Park Chandae for Mayor of Incheon, and Choo Miae for Governor of Gyeonggi Province to clearly announce their positions on the bill.

They also announced plans to launch a nationwide petition campaign online. The candidates explained, "Our predecessors confronted the struggle for a democratic constitution with a petition of 10 million signatures," and added, "With that same spirit, we will initiate a nationwide petition campaign opposing the Democratic Party's attempt to erase President Lee Jaemyung's crimes and the unconstitutional dismissal of charges, as quickly and efficiently as possible."

They left open the possibility of expanding the movement nationwide in the future. After the joint meeting, candidate Yoo told reporters, "This is a matter of grave importance. We will not allow this to be a one-time event, but will continue to fight in solidarity with all local election candidates and with those determined to defend liberal democracy, until our cause is achieved."

Yoo Jung-bok (from left), candidate for Incheon Mayor from the People Power Party, Oh Se-hoon, candidate for Seoul Mayor, Jo Eung-chun, candidate for Gyeonggi Province Governor from the Reform New Party, and Kim Jeong-cheol, candidate for Seoul Mayor, are holding an emergency joint meeting of metropolitan area local government candidates to prevent a judicial rebellion at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul on the 4th. This joint meeting was held in response to candidate Jo's proposal, with metropolitan area local government candidates of the capital area answering positively. May 4, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

However, when asked whether this joint response could lead to discussions about unifying candidacies, candidate Jo replied, "We are doing this with a sense of urgency, believing that if we lose here, we will be completely pushed out, just like falling from the Nakdong River into the sea off Busan. I have absolutely no thought about whether this would help or hinder any political engineering for unification."

Meanwhile, last month, the Democratic Party of Korea submitted a bill titled, "Act on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor for Investigating Allegations of Fabricated Investigations and Indictments by the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration, including the Prosecution Service, National Intelligence Service, and Board of Audit and Inspection." Of the 12 cases specified in the bill as targets for investigation, 8 are related to President Lee. The opposition has criticized the special prosecutor bill as a "self-exoneration" measure, arguing that the special prosecutor could re-investigate President Lee's cases and even dismiss the charges.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.