The public security authorities have sought arrest warrants for Han Myung-hee, President of the People’s Democracy Party (PDP), and Han Jun-hye, its Secretary-General. On June 12, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office requested warrants on charges of violating Article 7, Paragraph 3 (formation of or membership in an anti-state organization) and Paragraph 1 (praising, inciting, or propagandizing) of the National Security Act. The warrant hearing is being held today, June 16. The prosecution absurdly claims that the PDP’s advocacy of the withdrawal of US forces stationed in “Republic of Korea (ROK)”, democracy, and peaceful reunification through a federal system, as well as its promotion of popular resistance as a means to achieve these goals, constitutes “anti-state” activity. It further argues that President Han and Secretary-General Han pose a “flight risk” and therefore should be detained. This claim is made despite the fact that the authorities have thoroughly monitored their every move, documented the results in the warrant application, and already imposed a travel ban on them. The PDP works for “ROK”’s independence, democracy, and peaceful reunification. The concept of popular resistance advocated by the party is not only historically and practically validated but is also reflected in the spirit of the March 1st Independence Movement and the April 19th Uprising, both of which are referenced in the Preamble of the Constitution. The prosecution is, in effect, openly denying the Constitution itself.
The Yoon Suk-yeol–style smear campaign against a constitutional political party must stop immediately. The public security crackdown on the PDP intensified on August 30, 2024. Yoon Suk-yeol repeatedly used terms such as “anti-state forces” and “anti-democratic forces,” effectively ordering a political crackdown. Acting in line with those directives, prosecutors—serving as Yoon’s attack dogs—immediately targeted the PDP. On the same day, they also raided locations associated with the Democratic Party and the family of former President Moon Jae-in. What does it signify that both the revolutionary People’s Democracy Party and the reformist Democratic Party were targeted simultaneously? As has already become clear, it was the opening shot of a fascistic offensive and the prelude to the martial law conspiracy. Throughout the harshest fascist repression and even during the period of martial law mobilizing military forces, the PDP continued to struggle resolutely on the front lines of the December Uprising despite great risks. Now, prosecutors who acted as instruments of Yoon’s authoritarian rule and whose institution now stands on the brink of dissolution dare to attack the forces of the December Uprising and those opposing the insurrection.
Is it the method of the Lee Jae-myung administration to extend a hand in front while wielding a knife behind the back? In December of last year, 31 lawmakers aligned with the Democratic Party, including 15 members of the party itself, introduced a bill to abolish the National Security Act. President Lee Jae-myung, himself one of the principal victims of prosecutorial abuse, has publicly stated that the National Security Act infringes upon constitutional freedoms of thought and expression and that National Security Act cases are frequently exploited for political purposes. Meanwhile, U.S. Forces Korea Commander General Brunson has described “ROK” as an “aircraft carrier” and a “dagger,” while expanding the operational scope of US military activities across East Asia. In line with this, the Lee administration is pursuing the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines. Domestically, controversy surrounding alleged election irregularities following the local elections has deepened the government’s political difficulties. Against this backdrop, the Lee administration is carrying out political repression against the PDP. Is the Lee Democratic Party government following the same path as the Yoon administration and the People Power Party?
Stop the public security crackdown on the People’s Democracy Party and abolish the National Security Act! The National Security Act contradicts the spirit of the Constitution and suppresses fundamental human rights, including freedom of thought. Prosecutors are maliciously branding the PDP, a constitutional political party, as an “anti-state organization” and thereby challenging the Constitution itself. Historically, the Democratic Party has repeatedly manipulated the issue of reforming or abolishing the National Security Act for political gain while betraying public expectations. Lee Jae-myung is now collaborating with the very prosecutorial forces that once targeted him and using them as instruments of repression against progressive forces. The political repression directed at the PDP and the arrest warrant requests against President Han Myung-hee and Secretary-General Han Jun-hye demonstrate both the continuity between the authoritarian power of Yoon Suk-yeol and the reformist Democratic Party government of Lee Jae-myung, as well as the latter’s political duplicity. Where there is repression, there is resistance. The Korean people, who strive for truth and justice, will rise in popular struggle, sweep away all fascist forces and instruments of repression, and hasten the arrival of a truly democratic new society.
June 16, 2026
In Front of the Seoul Central District Court
Emergency Committee to Defeat the Repression of a Constitutional Political Party
