The Democratic Party Pushes Legal Amendments to Prevent Abuse of Parliamentary Immunity by Lawmakers... Targeting Lee Jae-myung

Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party, Speaks at Central Election Committee Meeting for Local Elections on the 13th
Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader, Plans to Announce Revision Direction on the 15th

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the 1st meeting of the Central Election Countermeasures Committee for the nationwide local elections held at the National Assembly on the 9th, delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kum Boryeong, Kwon Hyunji] The People Power Party is moving to amend the law to prevent the abuse of parliamentary immunity from arrest by members of the National Assembly. This is interpreted as a direct attack on Lee Jae-myung, Senior Advisor of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is running in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul by-election for the National Assembly.

On the morning of the 13th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, stated at the Central Election Countermeasures Committee meeting held at the National Assembly, "Recently, the act of making a shielded candidacy to abuse the parliamentary immunity from arrest has become a matter of public interest."

Lee emphasized, "Parliamentary immunity from arrest is clearly a constitutional right, but its purpose is to prevent unjust oppression of the legislature by those in power," adding, "It should not be used as a right to defend oneself against corruption related to one’s official duties."

This is analyzed as highlighting that Senior Advisor Lee’s candidacy in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul by-election is a 'shielded candidacy to abuse parliamentary immunity from arrest.'

Lee said, "I ask the floor leadership to study whether parliamentary immunity from arrest can be improved in a direction more desired by the public than the amendment made by the 20th National Assembly’s Political Reform Special Committee in 2016."

Along with this, Lee said, "Primarily, the first line of defense is for People Power Party candidate Yoon Hyung-sun to be elected in Incheon Gyeyang-eul, making it impossible for Senior Advisor Lee to use parliamentary immunity from arrest," adding, "However, even if the first line of defense fails, please study and promote amendments to parliamentary immunity from arrest so that investigations into Daejang-dong and beef sushi cases are not frustrated."

In response, Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong said, "There was a remark from the party leader about the amendment to parliamentary immunity from arrest, and research has started since the day before yesterday," adding, "I will inform you of our party’s amendment direction on Sunday morning (the 15th)."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.