President Lee Jae-myung said Tuesday that "the people, who are like heaven, saved my life, so my life now belongs entirely to the people." The remarks came as Lee once again emphasized his mission following the release of the "Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) Normalization Task Force Operation Results," which investigated improper intervention in the handling of a helicopter transfer request after Lee, then leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was attacked in Busan in January 2024.
Lee shared on X (formerly Twitter) an article reporting that the ACRC had concluded there was improper intervention by Jeong Seung-yoon, the former ACRC vice chairman and secretary general, in the case. Referring to "judicial assassination through fabricated prosecutorial indictment, knife assassination through a terrorist, and character assassination through manipulated media," Lee wrote, "Since the people, who are like heaven, saved me from these three grave threats of assassination, my life now belongs entirely to the people."
"Heaven has entrusted me not only with preserving my life but also with a great mission, so my only task is to build a nation for the people and a power that works solely for the people," Lee said. "My fellow citizens, I am simply grateful." He added, "Until my last moment, even if my body breaks, I will devote my loyalty and full strength to the people, who are like heaven."
The article Lee shared reported on the "ACRC Normalization Task Force Operation Results," confirming that in connection with Lee's July 2024 helicopter transfer case, matters not addressed at the ACRC plenary committee's agenda review or meetings were included in the resolution. The task force found that while the responsible department had recommended "referral to the agency" for institutional improvement regarding the Busan Fire Department employee who decided to transport Lee by emergency medical helicopter, Jeong ordered the case to be processed as a notice of code of conduct violation.
The task force also found that in handling the case of First Lady Kim Keon-hee's receipt of a luxury handbag, Jeong "delayed case processing by withholding judgment and ordering additional supplementary measures, contrary to the opinion of the responsible department." ACRC Chairman Chung Il-yeon said, "The investigator's opinion was clearly different," adding, "We confirmed that on March 18, 2024, the 60th day — the deadline for handling the case — Jeong met unofficially with former President Yoon Suk-yeol at the presidential residence."
The ACRC Normalization Task Force was formed in March to examine the allegations surrounding Kim Keon-hee's receipt of a luxury handbag and the decision to close the case. The task force operated for 54 days. The ACRC said it will "re-investigate the disputed cases and pursue institutional improvements in areas including meeting operations, case handling, civil complaint processing, and personnel management." The task force also said the ACRC "will issue an expression of regret (apology) at the commission level and, through institutional improvements, will minimize improper interventions in which specific individuals abuse their positions and authority to obstruct fair case handling."
