Conflict Over Innovation Plan and Prosecutor Appearance... Lee Jae-myung Faces Internal and External Troubles

Lee Jae-myung's Fourth Prosecutor Appearance on the 17th
Democratic Party Faces Growing Dilemma Over Arrest Consent Bills in August-September

Amid escalating factional conflicts over the Democratic Party of Korea Innovation Committee's proposed reform to reduce the delegate system, party leader Lee Jae-myung is set to undergo a prosecution investigation on the 17th over allegations of corruption related to the development of Baekhyeon-dong in Seongnam. Analysts say that Lee's leadership is being put to the test as he faces judicial risks once again without having succeeded in leading party unity.

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is under suspicion of preferential treatment in the Baekhyeon-dong development, is appearing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 17th for investigation. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Lee appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office that morning. Including previous summonses related to the Seongnam FC scandal and the Wirye and Daejang-dong allegations, this marks his fourth investigation. In a prepared statement, Lee evaluated the significance of this fourth summons by saying, "They are trying to use me as a scapegoat to cover up the incompetence and political failures of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."

Lee emphasized his innocence, stating, "I have never taken a single penny of personal gain. If there had been even the slightest wrongdoing, hundreds of searches over more than ten years and political oppression would have already pulverized me into dust." He also declared, "I will fulfill my duty without bending under any hardship. I am willing to become Sisyphus," adding, "I will respond to summonses not just ten times, but a hundred times with pride." The reference to Sisyphus, a figure in Greek mythology condemned to eternal punishment of endlessly rolling a boulder uphill, is interpreted as a metaphor for the continuous prosecution summonses he faces.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party is preparing countermeasures as it expects a motion to consent to Lee's arrest to be submitted between August and September. On the same day, Supreme Council member Park Chan-dae appeared on MBC Radio and predicted, "Lee said, 'Request the warrant during the recess, and I will confidently attend the warrant hearing,' but it seems the motion to consent to arrest will be sent during the parliamentary session."

Some suggest that if a warrant is requested during the August session, the parliament could be temporarily closed through a 'session split' to allow Lee to attend the warrant hearing.

If the motion to consent to arrest is submitted during the regular parliamentary session in September, Lee's leadership crisis is expected to intensify. Since a 'session split' would be impossible, the process would inevitably proceed to a vote on the motion. First, the Democratic Party, which has reached a consensus to waive immunity only for 'legitimate warrant requests,' may face internal debates over whether the warrant request is indeed 'legitimate.'

Since Lee has expressed willingness to waive his immunity, if the motion is passed, the party's judicial risk will become a reality. If rejected, the party will again face controversy over shielding him from prosecution. Lee believes the prosecution is exploiting this internal division and stated, "The prosecution should focus on investigation, not politics. They should abandon political tricks aimed at causing division and conflict by requesting a warrant during the session."

The situation within the party is also far from easy. At the Democratic Party's parliamentary meeting the previous day, the session turned into a condemnation rally against the reform plan proposed by Innovation Committee Chair Kim Eun-kyung, whom Lee appointed. In particular, the reform plan, which effectively abolishes the delegate system, was opposed as "not an urgent issue." Suspicion grew within the party about the background of the Innovation Committee addressing issues related to the upcoming party leadership election.

Supreme Council member Ko Min-jung said on SBS Radio that day, "If the party and national situation were stable, it might be understandable, but in such a hectic and critical time when everything is at stake, why must this be done now?"

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