[Photo Politics] Escalating to the Extreme: Fierce Confrontation Between Ruling and Opposition Parties

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Dong-joo] "The reckless advance of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration must be stopped immediately."

Ki Dong-min, the secretary of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and committee members are holding a press conference condemning the attempted search of the Democratic Party Central Party Office in front of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting room on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Ki Dong-min, the secretary of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and committee members are holding a press conference condemning the attempted search of the Democratic Party Central Party Office in front of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting room on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Officials from the Democratic Party of Korea are attaching placards with slogans condemning the oppression of opposition parties before the start of the audit at the National Assembly's inspection of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

At the emergency party meeting of the Democratic Party of Korea held at the National Assembly on the 20th, Representative Lee Jae-myung, Floor Leader Park Hong-geun, and other lawmakers protested against the prosecution's attempt to search the Democratic Party headquarters by holding picket signs. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 20th, members of the Democratic Party's Judiciary Committee made this statement in front of the National Assembly Judiciary Committee meeting room regarding the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3's attempt to search the Democratic Research Institute Vice Director Kim Yong on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. They also condemned the prosecution's search attempt as a "clear oppression of the opposition party," arguing that "there can be no expectation of a rebound in approval ratings through political oppression disguised as criminal investigation," and insisted that "both incompetence and immorality are absolutely unacceptable." They called for an apology from President Yoon Seok-yeol, the resignation of Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, and disciplinary action against Song Kyung-ho, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok attended the National Assembly's inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 20th and is seen talking with officials while waiting for the audit to begin. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 20th, during the National Assembly inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held at the National Assembly, Democratic Party lawmakers protested the attempt to search the central party headquarters and did not attend the inspection, leaving their seats empty. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Earlier, on the 19th, the prosecution secured testimony from former headquarters chief Yoo Dong-gyu, who was released after his detention period expired, stating that he provided illegal political funds amounting to around 800 million won to Kim Yong, Vice Director of the Democratic Research Institute. Based on this, they urgently arrested Vice Director Kim Yong, and on the same afternoon, arrived at the Yeouido Democratic Party headquarters where the Democratic Research Institute is located to execute a search warrant, leading to a standoff that lasted until late at night.

Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers are blocking the prosecution's search and seizure of the Democratic Research Institute in front of the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 19th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party Secretary-General Jo Jeong-sik is making a statement on the 19th in front of the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding the prosecution's search and seizure.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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