The 'Judicial Risk' That Became a Political Flashpoint... The National Assembly Drifting Without Addressing People's Livelihoods

Demand for Lee Jae-myung's Summons Investigation Sparks Opposition's "Political Retaliation" Backlash, Raising 'Double Special Prosecutor' Card
Ruling Party Plans Emergency Committee Launch Before Chuseok... Lee Jun-seok's Injunction Outcome a Wildcard
Leadership Crisis Inevitable for Both Parties if 'Judicial Risk' Materializes

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yunjin] As the regular National Assembly session enters its fifth day, both ruling and opposition parties are struggling with internal judicial risks. The opposition party's newly elected leader faces a summons from the prosecution, while the ruling party is in a crisis where the fate of its leadership depends on a court decision, raising concerns that the National Assembly should focus more on pressing public issues.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The Democratic Party of Korea is heightening its offensive against the ruling party amid growing concerns over the judicial risks materializing for party leader Lee Jae-myung. Earlier, the prosecution notified Lee to appear at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office by the 6th for investigation on charges of false statements under the Public Official Election Act. The prosecution stated that the statute of limitations expires on the 9th, and since Lee's side did not respond to a written investigation, a summons was issued.

If Lee is convicted of false statements under the Public Official Election Act and receives a fine of 1 million won or more, he will be disqualified from running for office for the next five years, making it impossible for him to run in the 2027 presidential election. The party may also face a situation where it has to repay approximately 43.4 billion won in presidential election campaign funds reimbursed by the National Election Commission. The Democratic Party is protesting, accusing the prosecution of conducting malicious retaliatory investigations. On the 4th, party Secretary-General Cho Jung-sik criticized at a National Assembly press briefing, calling the public summons "a malicious and petty tactic enjoyed by past political and public security prosecutors aimed at humiliating." At an emergency party meeting convened the next day, the Democratic Party encouraged Lee to refuse the summons, while attention is focused on what decision Lee, who has emphasized a 'direct breakthrough,' will make.

Announcing a tough party-level response to retaliatory investigations, the Democratic Party has taken a strong stance by mentioning the so-called 'double special prosecutor.' This includes accepting a special prosecutor investigation into Kim Geon-hee, who is suspected of stock manipulation related to Deutsche Motors, as proposed by Representative Kim Yong-min, along with a special prosecutor for Lee. On the 5th, at an emergency party meeting, the Democratic Party agreed to push forward the 'Special Prosecutor Act for the Truth Investigation of Kim Geon-hee's Stock Manipulation and False Career Cases,' proposed by Representative Kim Yong-min. However, some non-mainstream members expressed opposition, calling it "the worst card (Representative Lee Won-wook)" and warning "not to recklessly press the nuclear button (Representative Cho Eung-cheon)," leading to analysis that pushing for a special prosecutor under the 'political retaliation' frame could ignite internal party conflicts.

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering a speech at the 4th National Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The People Power Party plans to launch a new emergency committee before Chuseok to normalize the party, but judicial risks remain a trigger. Earlier, the court ruled on former party leader Lee Jun-seok's first injunction request, deciding that the situation did not warrant the establishment of an emergency committee and suspending the duties of emergency committee chairman Joo Ho-young.

In response, the People Power Party intends to amend party rules and regulations to create conditions for the new emergency committee's launch, but Lee Jun-seok has opposed, stating that the emergency committee invalidated by the court cannot be formed. Both the party and Chairman Joo have filed objections and suspension of execution requests against the court's suspension decision, while Lee additionally filed an injunction seeking suspension of duties for eight emergency committee members excluding Chairman Joo. A consolidated hearing for the three lawsuits is scheduled for the 14th, after the Chuseok holiday.

The People Power Party hopes the court will reach a different conclusion from the first injunction, as procedural defects related to the emergency committee's launch have been resolved. On the morning of the 5th, Policy Committee Chairman Sung Il-jong expressed confidence in a CBS radio interview, saying, "We are accepting the court's judgment and organizing the party rules and regulations," suggesting a low possibility of losing the case.

However, if the court again sides with Lee, the People Power Party, which has seen two emergency committee systems collapse, will face great chaos. As lawmakers Kim Woong, Ha Tae-kyung, and Heo Eun-ah, considered pro-Lee Jun-seok faction, have voiced opposition to the new emergency committee's launch, internal party conflicts are expected to become more overt. On the 3rd, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo criticized in an interview with Sisa Journal, saying, "The problem remains unresolved because Lee and the Yoon core faction are fighting as if losing means death. For the country and the party, both should let go."

With both ruling and opposition parties on high alert over internal issues, concerns are rising that the regular National Assembly session may neglect discussions on public welfare. On the 4th, Professor Jang Seong-ho of Konkuk University's Department of National Intelligence expressed concern on YTN Newswide, stating, "Each party is engulfed in internal strife and power struggles, and the ruling and opposition parties are politically fighting and showing strategic postures," adding, "It is inevitable that public welfare will be sidelined."

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