Lee Jae-myung's Gambit? ... Debate Over Waiving 'Immunity from Arrest'

Yoo Sang-beom "No Resonance"
Jo Kyung-tae "Privilege Renunciation Only in Words"
Ahn Min-seok "Masterstroke, Flower Card"
Lee Sang-min "Very Well Made Decision"
Jo Eung-cheon "Not Directly Related to Resignation Issue"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced in his parliamentary negotiation group representative speech that he would "give up parliamentary immunity," leading to divided evaluations in the political sphere. While the ruling party belittled the statement, saying it "lacks impact," the opposition praised it with comments like "a masterstroke" and "a trump card." However, it remains uncertain whether this will ease the pressure for his resignation.

On the 20th, Yoo Sang-beom, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, said on MBC's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" that "During the presidential and local elections, he clearly pledged to give up parliamentary immunity, but he used it for all the most important matters concerning himself," adding, "Because his words and actions are always different, and because wordplay and changing his stance have been repeated so many times?like when he said he respected someone but then asked if they thought he actually did?his declaration to give up parliamentary immunity lacks impact."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly on the 19th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Jo Kyung-tae, a member of the People Power Party, also criticized on SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show," saying, "If he truly wants to give up his privileges, can he also give up his duties as a member of the National Assembly and as party leader? I want to ask that," and added, "Saying you will give up privileges in words only is truly an act of mocking and deceiving the people."

On the other hand, the opposition has given high praise to his declaration to give up parliamentary immunity. Jeong Seong-ho, a pro-Lee (Chin-myeong) Democratic Party lawmaker, said on CBS's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," "At the right time, it helped to ease some internal dissatisfaction and criticism within the party, and also mitigated criticism from the public about the Democratic Party heading towards a shielded parliament," while lawmaker Ahn Min-seok also evaluated it on SBS Radio as "a masterstroke" and "grabbing a trump card."

It is also assessed that even the anti-Lee (Bi-myeong) faction, which had previously expressed critical views of the leader, showed positive reactions. Seo Young-kyo, a Supreme Council member, said on MBC Radio, "Regarding the arrest warrant issue, both the Bi-myeong and Chin-myeong factions said he did very well yesterday," and Jeong Cheong-rae, another Supreme Council member, said on KBS's "Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs," "Messages welcoming this also came out a lot from the so-called Bi-myeong faction, and after the leader's speech yesterday, even lawmakers who normally wouldn't have done so gave standing ovations."

In fact, Lee Sang-min, a lawmaker representing the Bi-myeong faction within the party, also gave high praise through social media the day before, saying, "It is a very well-made decision. It not only means that the leader himself and the Democratic Party are keeping their public pledge to the people but also shows strong leadership in fighting against the prosecution's abuse of public power. It will be an opportunity to shed the negative image of a shielded parliament and shielded party."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly on the 19th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

However, whether this will quell calls for his resignation is a separate issue. Cho Eung-cheon, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said on YTN's "News King with Park Ji-hoon," "(The resignation demands) are not completely linked to the giving up of parliamentary immunity. They are related to the shielded parliament controversy and judicial risks," adding, "There are also leadership risks and various other complex problems, so just because he did this doesn't mean there are no problems. It doesn't directly lead to 'let's just move on.'"

Lawmaker Kim Jong-min positively evaluated the move, saying, "The public criticism of the shielded party has crossed a considerable line, but at least now that such a stance has been announced, I hope it will be an opportunity for our Democratic Party to move away from being a shielded party," while also noting, "How this will be implemented going forward, whether the leader will only apply this to his personal issues, and whether the overall atmosphere of our Democratic Party will change?these issues remain tasks for the future."

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