People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok joined lawmakers and supporters outside the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, urging judges to rule against the detention of former floor leader Choo Kyung-ho and accusing the government and ruling party of attempting to “annihilate the opposition.”

Jang told the crowd that Choo's detention would amount to “a detention warrant for South Korea’s liberal democracy,” warning that if Choo falls, “the People Power Party will be next, and then the public.”

He said the warrant must be dismissed to put an end to what he called baseless insurrection allegations, declaring that Tuesday should mark the start of a “public counteroffensive” against the Lee administration’s authoritarianism.

Before Jang began speaking, some hecklers called him a traitor and slammed him for not voting to lift martial law, prompting him to pause his remarks.

The PPP leader responded by saying he would remain quiet for a moment so the crowd could hear how crudely and desperately the ruling party’s followers bark because they fear the warrant will be thrown out, before resuming his speech.