'Signed Vote on Arrest Consent' Sparks Outrage from Non-Declarers... "People's Trial", "Watermelon Purge Show"

Draft Resolution for Lawmaker Arrest Consent Vote, Internal Struggles in the Opposition
Silent Faction Expresses Discomfort... Concerns Over Stigmatization Effect

The Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea has proposed changing the anonymous vote on the arrest consent bill to a roll-call vote, deepening the conflict between the pro-Lee Jae-myung (친명, Chinmyeong) and anti-Lee factions (비명, Bimyeong).

In particular, the anti-Lee faction strongly opposed the proposal, calling it a so-called "subak (watermelon: someone who is different inside and out) exposure show." Critics also pointed out that since changing to a roll-call vote requires complex procedures such as amending the law, it would be ineffective.

Lee Won-wook, a Democratic Party lawmaker from the anti-Lee faction, said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 27th, "Asking those who oppose the Lee Jae-myung regime to reveal their names seems like a show to expose subaks." The term subak refers to 'someone who is different inside and out' and is a derogatory expression used against the anti-Lee faction.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party Innovation Committee proposed changing the anonymous vote on the arrest consent bill to a roll-call vote as a new innovation plan, and Lee Jae-myung himself agreed on the necessity of switching to a roll-call vote. However, the anti-Lee faction expressed concerns that publicly revealing those who supported the arrest consent bill could create a 'stigmatization effect.'

Lee said, "(Lee Jae-myung) declared that he would voluntarily give up the privilege of non-arrest. But now, if a roll-call vote is held and it is revealed who voted and who the subaks are, those who support the arrest consent bill will be stigmatized as subaks. How would the public view that?" He added, "It would be labeled not as innovation but as anti-innovation."

This could also affect the sincerity of the Innovation Committee. Lee said, "They are acting in a way that could be mistaken as the Lee Jae-myung Protection Committee," and "I clearly see that the discussion about roll-call voting has gone that far."

Cho Eung-cheon, a Democratic Party lawmaker from the anti-Lee faction, also criticized on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' program, saying, "In a situation where a centralized system, hostile two-party system, and political hooligans are all combined, and the party line is tightly enforced, demanding a roll-call vote is like calling for a people's trial."

He also noted that amending the law is necessary for a roll-call vote, and since law amendments are difficult, it would be ineffective. Cho said, "I think it's a somewhat pointless discussion. After all, this requires a legal amendment," and Song Gap-seok, a Supreme Council member, questioned on BBS's 'Jeon Kyung-shin's Morning Journal,' "Isn't this currently impossible? When and how would the law be changed?"

Choi Jae-sung, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs and a pro-Moon Jae-in (친문, Chinmun) figure, said on YTN's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon,' "Wouldn't the People Power Party oppose this law? Even if it is designated as a fast-track bill, it would take nearly a year."

However, some opinions suggest that it is not necessary to view this strictly as a 'subak exposure' measure.

Former Secretary Choi said, "There is a view that if the arrest consent bill comes up, it is to weed out opposing lawmakers within the Democratic Party and to pressure them, but from the perspective of when this (law) would be passed and applied, it would happen independently of Lee Jae-myung." He added, "So, Lee personally expressed his opinion, but linking this to the representative issue is, in a way, a political mistake that is regrettable."

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