President Lee Jae Myung says those who attempt to overthrow the state by orchestrating coup d'etats should be dealt "like Nazi war criminals."

Lee made the remark during a Cabinet meeting on the eve of the anniversary of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol's ill-fated martial law bid, saying those responsible for such crimes must face criminal punishment for as long as they live, comparing them to Nazis.

Lee expressed his intention to address coup d'etat attempts and cases of state power abuse, such as killing by torture and fabricating criminal charges, and advocated that the heirs of such perpetrators be held liable within the scope of inherited assets.

This came as Lee was discussing with his justice minister the status of a bill that would abolish the statute of limitations on acts of state violence, which the previous administration vetoed.