With "Democratic Party's 'Waiver of Immunity from Arrest' Fails, Is There Really a Will for Reform?"

Park Dae-chul "The Innovation Committee is ultimately a Lee Jae-myung Protection Committee"
Lee Yang-su "Just a loud empty can"

On the 14th, the People Power Party raised critical voices, expressing regret over the fact that the Democratic Party of Korea's first innovation proposal, the ‘Resolution for All Party Members to Waive Immunity from Arrest,’ was effectively rejected at the party members' meeting.

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at the National Assembly's floor strategy meeting held that day, “It is truly regrettable that the Democratic Party has betrayed the public's earnest expectations for parliamentary reform, including relinquishing privileges,” adding, “As the ruling party and partner in National Assembly operations, we are very concerned whether the Democratic Party truly has the will to innovate.”

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Yoon continued, “The reason why this resolution to waive immunity from arrest was important is that it served as a touchstone to gauge whether the Democratic Party is ready to return to being a normal political party based on public common sense and science,” criticizing, “Surrounded by extreme supporters, the Democratic Party has forgotten its responsibility as a legitimate party, immersing itself only in fake news and agitation, thereby inviting international embarrassment.”

Yoon also said, “This situation is not only unfortunate for the Democratic Party and the political sphere but also a major obstacle to the recovery of people’s livelihoods and the economy,” emphasizing, “We need to heed the words of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the discussion held the day before on the theme ‘What Will the National Assembly Do?’ Ban harshly criticized the Democratic Party’s anti-Japan contaminated water agitation as irresponsible, dangerous, and damaging to national dignity. I believe his remarks stem from deep concern about the Democratic Party, which is like a runaway train with broken brakes.”

Park Dae-chul, chairman of the Policy Committee, also pointed out, “Kim Eun-kyung, chairwoman of the Democratic Party’s Innovation Committee, said the party would collapse if the reform plan was not accepted, and floor leader Park Kwang-on made a sincere proposal, but it was like preaching to deaf ears,” adding, “The Innovation Committee has ultimately failed to move beyond being a shield to protect Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.”

Lee Yang-su, senior deputy floor leader, criticized, “Waiving immunity from arrest was Lee’s presidential campaign pledge and an issue he repeatedly emphasized in speeches to the parliamentary negotiation groups,” saying, “In the end, it has become nothing more than a loud empty drum.”

Lee further stated, “This clearly shows how shallow and irresponsible the innovation, reform, reflection, and change that the Democratic Party so heavily emphasized really are,” adding, “No matter how good the innovation proposals are, if they are not implemented, they are nothing but a political show for appearances. The Democratic Party and the Innovation Committee must stop politics that only talk without action and show genuine innovation to the public.”

The Democratic Party held a party members' meeting the day before to attempt ratification of the Innovation Committee’s first reform proposal, ‘Waiving Immunity from Arrest,’ but it failed.

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