Joo Ho-young: "More than 30 votes defected to reject Lee Jae-myung's arrest motion... Resign"

"Democratic Party, Some Conscience Still Alive"
Speaker Rejects Submission of Grain Management Act
"Proper Adjustment Decision"

On the 27th, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, stated that although the arrest motion against Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was ultimately rejected, in fact, more votes were in favor, and he hopes that Lee will take political responsibility and resign.

After the plenary session vote on the arrest motion against Lee, Joo held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, "Today's voting results show that the Democratic Party still has some sense of duty and conscience as a public party."

The arrest motion against Lee, submitted to the National Assembly plenary session that day, was conducted by secret ballot with 297 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties participating. The results were 139 in favor, 138 against, resulting in rejection. There were 11 invalid votes and 9 abstentions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Although the rejection of the arrest motion means the court will not decide on Lee's detention, the number of opposing votes fell far short of the Democratic Party's 169 seats, indicating a significant number of defections.

Joo said, "I hope Lee proves his innocence through judicial procedures," adding, "I also hope the mainstream of the Democratic Party stops trying to protect Lee through a bulletproof National Assembly and parliamentary immunity. That is the way to save the Democratic Party, to save politics, and to save the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea."

Nevertheless, regarding the eventual rejection of the arrest motion, Joo criticized, "The Democratic Party abandoned the will of the entire people to save one person accused of corruption," and pointed out, "After electing an unprecedentedly unqualified and illegal leader in constitutional history, they have degraded a 70-year-old national party into a shield and even turned the sacred hall of public opinion into a shield of injustice."

On the 27th, when the vote on the arrest consent bill for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is scheduled, officials are preparing for the opening at the National Assembly plenary session hall in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The 'Grain Management Act,' which the Democratic Party forcibly submitted that day, was not voted on as the Speaker of the National Assembly refused to put it on the agenda, citing the need for further consultation between the ruling and opposition parties.

Regarding this, Joo said, "Since the presidential veto is certain, ignoring the National Assembly's legislative authority would result, so the Speaker conveyed that it would be best to make every effort to reach an agreement," adding, "I believe the Speaker's mediation efforts and decision are proper adjustments to protect parliamentary sovereignty and legislative authority."

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