Park Ji-won: "Over 30 Defections from the Democratic Party Deal a Fatal Blow to Lee Jae-myung's Leadership"

"Seems Like the Democratic Party Has Not Fully United"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The motion to consent to the arrest of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted on suspicion of illegal donations to Seongnam FC, was rejected at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 27th. Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won analyzed that the mass defection of votes within the Democratic Party would inevitably cause fatal damage to Lee's leadership.

On the afternoon of the 27th, former Director Park appeared on JTBC News Special and said, "As a result, the Democratic Party failed to fully unite, and more than 30 members defected," adding, "This is causing fatal damage to Lee's leadership."

When the host asked about the prediction of damage to Lee's leadership within the party, he briefly replied, "I think it cannot be helped."

Lee Jae-o, senior advisor of the People Power Party who appeared together, explained, "The Democratic Party has 169 seats, but only 138 votes against means that the party is not united internally."

On the same day, the National Assembly held a secret ballot vote on the motion to consent to Lee's arrest at the plenary session. Out of 299 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties, 297 participated in the vote, resulting in 139 votes in favor, 138 against, 9 abstentions, and 11 invalid votes, leading to the rejection of the motion. For the motion to pass, a majority of the total members must be present and a majority of votes in favor is required.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Initially, the Democratic Party was confident of an "overwhelming rejection." On the morning of the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Joo-min predicted on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" that the rejection votes would exceed 170. Park explained, "When I checked around and talked naturally, almost no one had different thoughts or intentions on this matter," adding, "Many lawmakers felt 'puzzled' and 'absurd' as some details of the arrest warrant were partially disclosed."

Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Ui-gyeom also predicted about 175 rejection votes. On the morning of the same day on BBS Radio's "Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal," he said, "I don't think there will be any 'rebellious votes' such as invalid or abstention votes within the party," and "It is expected that about 175 votes will be cast as rejection votes without any defections among Democratic Party lawmakers."

However, since the votes against fell significantly short of the Democratic Party's 169 seats, it is analyzed that a considerable number of defections to support or invalid/abstention votes occurred within the party. Senior advisor Lee explained, "If the six members of the Justice Party, minor parties, and independents cast rejection votes, then more defections must have occurred within the Democratic Party," adding, "Excluding the 20 who abstained or cast invalid votes, there were 138 votes against, and since the Democratic Party has 169 members, 31 members defected."

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