South Korea’s Lee urges harsh penalties for coup plotters
During a Cabinet meeting, Lee stated that statutes of limitations should not apply to “state violent crimes,” as noted in reports. “Those who stage military coups to overturn the nation or infringe upon individuals’ human rights through state power should be punished as long as they are alive, just as Nazi war criminals were handled,” he said.
Yoon had imposed martial law on December 3 of last year, but it was annulled by parliament within six hours. He was later impeached and removed, enabling Lee’s election in June.
Lee added that accountability should extend beyond the individuals directly involved: “As long as there are inherited assets, heirs should also be held fully accountable. This is necessary to prevent recurrence.”
The president also highlighted the importance of upholding the “separation of church and state” and instructed officials to examine “institutional responses” to “organized political intervention” by religious organizations. He described this principle as “a truly significant constitutional decision” and warned, “Violations of this principle are not merely deviations but serious matters that undermine the Constitution and constitutional order.” Lee cited examples from Japan, where the Unification Church, implicated in a political funding scandal, was dissolved.
Lee’s comments come amid ongoing legal action against the Unification Church in South Korea. In October, prosecutors indicted its leader on charges including bribery, embezzlement, and evidence tampering related to the former first lady and the ruling party.
Addressing broader threats to democracy, Lee warned against “fake news,” stating it “destroys democratic order,” and called for government-wide measures to combat the organized spread of misinformation.
On data protection, he urged tougher penalties and proposed a punitive damages system in response to a major breach at an e-commerce company that exposed the personal information of nearly 34 million customers.
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