Seobokgyeong: "Innovation Committee to Protect Lee Jae-myung? It Could Be Seen That Way"

Democratic Party Innovation Committee Member, SBS Radio Interview
"Lee Must Undergo Prosecutor Investigation and Warrant Hearing"

Seo Bok-kyung, an innovation committee member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 18th that regarding the criticism from some quarters that the innovation committee is the "Lee Jae-myung Protection Innovation Committee," "It doesn't seem to be a wrong thought," adding, "From the perspective of those who believe that the problem within the party will be resolved if Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader, resigns, it may appear that way."

On the same day, Seo appeared on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show" and said, "Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader, was lawfully elected according to the party constitution and regulations, so the only way to replace him is impeachment," adding, "However, since we have not found any grounds for impeachment, we are creating innovation plans based on the current leadership." This statement implies that it is inappropriate for the innovation committee to judge Lee's position.

Seo explained, "(Regarding Lee's resignation and leadership replacement) it is not an area for us to judge," adding, "Since the Democratic Party members and the national electorate elected him according to the party constitution and regulations, any replacement must also follow the party constitution and regulations." He further added, "(The innovation committee) neither has the authority nor do we think it is a reasonable approach."

Kim Eun-kyung, Chair of the Innovation Committee, is speaking at the 6th meeting held on the 6th at the Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Regarding the problems of Lee's administration, Seo cited the adoption of the party's stance to give up parliamentary immunity, which was proposed as the first innovation plan by the innovation committee.

Seo said, "The reason the innovation committee came about was because there was a renewal general meeting due to the 2021 party convention money envelope incident, and it was agreed that the party needed to be viewed from an outsider's perspective," adding, "The public is suffering and in pain due to various issues, and because there was a consecutive controversy over the 'bulletproof parliament,' we proposed this with the intention that such incidents should not be repeated in the future."

Regarding Lee's judicial risk issue, Seo urged, "Since Lee himself said he would 'not hide behind' the waiver of parliamentary immunity, if a motion for arrest consent comes, he must be investigated for each case and also undergo a warrant hearing." Earlier, Lee declared the waiver of parliamentary immunity in his parliamentary negotiation group leader's speech on the 19th of last month.

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