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The DP must stop its signature ‘fear marketing’

Published: 02 Sep. 2024, 19:45

Ludicrous claims by the Democratic Party (DP) have exceeded permissible levels. In the rare meeting with the leader of the governing People Power Party (PPP) on Sunday, DP head Lee Jae-myung abruptly raised a conspiracy theory that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration prepares to declare martial law and arrest opposition lawmakers to effectively block the National Assembly from passing a motion to nullify the declaration. The chairman of the Strategy and Planning Committee of the DP, a close aide to Lee, also raised the possibility of the conservative government preparing to declare martial law to “neutralize the majority party” in the legislature.

After members of the Supreme Council of the DP joined forces to fuel the conspiracy, the presidential office dismissed the move as a “nonsensical, misleading political offensive.” The PPP denounced the allegation for “attempting to thrust the country into chaos with fake allegations.” PPP leader Han Dong-hoon urged the DP to present evidence. “If such claims are not true, the DP must take responsibility,” he warned.

The DP cited the president’s appointments of his high school alumni as chiefs of military offices handling national defense, counterintelligence and information on North Korea. The party believes that such recruitments were aimed to prepare for the declaration of martial law. The DP also pointed to the controversial document on declaring martial law under the Park Geun-hye administration. But the months-long investigations into the case by 37 prosecutors under the Moon Jae-in administration proved nothing. The DP can criticize Yoon’s appointments of his school alumni as commanders of sensitive military offices. But it doesn’t make sense if the party adheres to the conspiracy without showing any evidence.

The government can’t declare martial law at any time — and if the legislature calls for the revocation of the declaration, the government must follow. The DP leader knows it very well. But why is he spreading fake news? His remarks only disgrace the level of people’s consciousness, the military’s determination to maintain political neutrality and the country’s heightened international stature. We cannot but link Lee’s move to the need for him to rally support or build the cause for presidential impeachment before the court’s first ruling on his corruption as early as October.

The National Assembly finally convened 95 days after the beginning of its new term due to the persistent confrontation between the two major parties. Regrettably, the president didn’t attend the opening ceremony of the legislature on Monday. But the majority party also must stop fueling public scare without presenting any evidence. Otherwise, the two parties can’t cooperate in the future.