Did Han Dong-hoon Get the Better of Them?…Democratic Party Trapped in the 'Bulletproof Trap'

Yoon Gwansuk and Lee Seongman Arrest Consent Proposal Rejected
Political Circles: "Leniency, Moral Insensitivity"
Experts: "Result Dampens Innovation"

The Democratic Party of Korea has fallen into the 'bulletproof trap.' After the arrest warrants for lawmakers Yoon Kwan-seok and Lee Sung-man, who left the party amid the 2021 party convention money envelope scandal, were rejected in the National Assembly, criticism labeling the party as a 'bulletproof party' has poured in. Since the money envelope allegations surfaced, the party leadership formed an Innovation Committee and promised reform, but with the arrest warrants for party figures including leader Lee Jae-myung being repeatedly rejected, evaluations have emerged that the purpose of reform has been rendered meaningless.

On the 13th, the Democratic Party claimed that Minister Han Dong-hoon's remarks were the decisive factor in the rejection of the arrest warrants for lawmakers Yoon Kwan-seok and Lee Sung-man during the National Assembly vote held the previous day. Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon said on SBS Radio that Han Dong-hoon's remarks "made it possible to infer that the Democratic Party is a criminal organization" and called it an "intentional provocation." He added, "I believe that the fire was ignited in a state where there was a prevailing belief that only the Democratic Party was being targeted, combined with a victim mentality, and the fact that Han is a former chief prosecutor, with hunting grounds and prey all laid out."

The day before, Minister Han reportedly provoked Democratic Party lawmakers by saying just before the National Assembly vote, "About 20 Democratic Party lawmakers who are suspected of receiving money envelopes are here and will participate in the vote," and "The votes of about 20 people are expected to be the casting vote that will determine the outcome." Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sung-jun also said on the radio that "Han Dong-hoon's remarks seemed somewhat calculated." A senior Democratic Party lawmaker explained, "Minister Han provoked our lawmakers' emotions," adding, "In the case of lawmaker Yoon, the vote was leaning toward approval, but they turned away after that remark." He also said, "The prosecution's pressure, such as raids, is too excessive," and "When told to be bulletproof, they just did it," indicating a backlash occurred.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the political sphere, a full-scale offensive was launched over the rejection of the arrest warrants. Yoo Sang-beom, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' that "even within the Democratic Party, leniency is rampant, and as a result, the Democratic Party's moral insensitivity is widespread, so the rejection of the arrest warrants was expected." He pointed out, "The judicial risks of party leader Lee Jae-myung are the root cause of the rejection of the arrest warrants." The Justice Party also criticized the Democratic Party for rejecting the arrest warrants. On the previous day, Kim Hee-seo, chief spokesperson for the Justice Party, said in a briefing, "They added bulletproof politics to the money envelope corruption and protecting their own," and "The Democratic Party, which still cannot escape old-fashioned politics and showed an irresponsible attitude before the people, is strongly condemned."

Some analyze that the Democratic Party's sensitive reaction to Minister Han's 'provocation' rather solidified the bulletproof frame. Political commentator Jang Sung-chul, director of the Public Opinion Center, said on CBS Radio's Kim Hyun-jung's News Show, "It was predicted that the Democratic Party would approve the arrest warrants to win next year's general election, but it became a bulletproof party protecting corruption, bribery, and money issues. They got caught in the frame of 'Let's not choose such a bad party.'" Former Justice Party lawmaker Park Won-seok said on the same broadcast, "If the Democratic Party lawmakers voted against the warrants because of Han Dong-hoon's cheekiness, the Democratic Party becomes an even more miserable party." Ha Tae-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker, also pointed out on KBS Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "The Democratic Party should judge from the people's perspective, but they judged based on personal feelings toward Minister Han."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Experts also pointed out that the Democratic Party's choice could be a 'self-inflicted wound.' Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said about the rejection of the arrest warrants, "When the regime changes, 'the entrenchment of progressives' was the biggest factor, and this shows there is no sign of change," adding, "The fact that the Democratic Party does not change is also a significant reason why President Yoon Seok-youl and the People Power Party are struggling." Regarding the general election, he added, "The moderate voters are likely to have reached the peak of disgust, and both parties seem to think it is not too late to win them over just before the election."

Professor Park Sang-byeong of Inha University's Graduate School of Policy also criticized, saying, "The Democratic Party fell into Minister Han's provocation," and "They reacted angrily, showing behavior contrary to the public sentiment." Professor Park said, "Meanwhile, the Innovation Committee was launched, but the result was a dampener on the party leadership's promise to innovate," and criticized, "If you ask whether the reform that leader Lee Jae-myung wants to push forward is ultimately bulletproof politics and protecting their own, there is nothing to say."

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