"Lee Jae-myung and Kwon Seong-dong Should Undergo Warrant Hearings Like Others"

Joo Ho-young "Cannot Ignore Legal Procedures Just Because I Became Leader of the Main Opposition Party"
Seong Il-jong "Has There Ever Been Such an Incident or Politician in Constitutional History?"

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Youngwon Kim] On the 17th, the People Power Party pressured Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to relinquish his parliamentary immunity and confidently prove his innocence by attending the warrant hearing, following the prosecution's request for his arrest warrant.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the party's floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "He should not hide behind the National Assembly's parliamentary immunity shield to resolve his grievances but should respond to the warrant hearing at the court fairly and prove his innocence," adding, "Judicial truth should not be obscured by a condemnation rally."

The Democratic Party is holding a "Condemnation Rally Against the Yoon Seok-yeol Regime's Prosecutorial Dictatorship" on the steps in front of the National Assembly main building that day. They criticize the prosecution, claiming that the request for the arrest warrant of the leader is "political retaliation" and "oppression of the opposition party." About 2,000 people, including lawmakers, regional committee heads, key party members from the metropolitan area, party officials, and aides, are expected to attend.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party's strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 17th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Floor leader Joo said, "They talk about unprecedented political oppression against the leader of the main opposition party, but have you ever seen such a problematic person among the past leaders of the main opposition party?" and added, "The issues were raised within the Democratic Party during his time as mayor of Seongnam, not after becoming the leader of the main opposition party."

He continued, "Becoming the leader of the main opposition party does not mean ignoring or evading legal procedures," and said, "This should be judged strictly according to legal procedures and the National Assembly's Code of Ethics for lawmakers, not driven by party opinion or politics."

Floor leader Joo increased pressure on Lee by citing that lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong underwent a warrant hearing during the 2018 investigation into Kangwon Land recruitment corruption. Joo said, "He claims to be confident, but the person who said 'I am confident and will receive a proper judicial judgment' in our National Assembly was our party's lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong," adding, "He gave up his parliamentary immunity, went to the hearing himself, and the warrant was dismissed."

Policy Committee Chairman Sung Il-jong also pointed out, "The crime allegations involving the leader of the ruling party who was even a presidential candidate include breach of trust, bribery, violation of the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act, violation of the Anti-Corruption Act, and violation of the Act on the Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds," adding, "The amount involved in the breach of trust allegations alone exceeds 480 billion won."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 17th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Chairman Sung criticized, "I wonder if there has ever been such a case or politician in the history of Korea's constitutional government," and said, "Yet, what was Lee's attitude during the investigation? Didn't he refuse to testify every time he was summoned?"

He added, "Lee Jae-myung, marked by lies, a shielded National Assembly, and sophistry, has become the epitome of a disgraceful politician," and urged, "Keep your promise to relinquish parliamentary immunity and confidently attend the warrant hearing."

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