Hong Ik-pyo: "If the party leader is detained, normal party affairs cannot proceed... Need to see the substantive review results"

Park Kwang-on, Forced to Resign

With the approval of the arrest consent bill for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 21st, there is divided opinion within the party over whether Lee should continue to hold his position if he is detained. Democratic Party lawmaker Hong Ik-pyo stated, "The position of party leader will be affected depending on the outcome of Lee's warrant hearing." It suggests that it would not be easy for him to continue as party leader if he is detained.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Rep. Hong said, "Of course, just because the party leader is detained doesn't mean he must step down, but in reality, it is highly likely that party affairs will not proceed normally while he is detained."

Within the party, especially among the pro-Lee faction, there are claims that Lee should maintain his position even if detained. However, Rep. Hong said, "Once a new floor leader is appointed, depending on the outcome of Lee's warrant hearing, the party leadership and the Supreme Council will be influenced accordingly." This is interpreted to mean that if the warrant is dismissed, it is highly likely he can maintain his position, but if detained, continuing as party leader would be difficult.

He also drew attention by stating he would "leave the party" at a party meeting held after the arrest consent bill was approved the previous day. Rep. Hong explained, "Something must be taken responsibility for. The party is currently facing a very serious crisis, but no responsible people are stepping up to take responsibility; everyone is just shifting blame and focusing on criticizing and attacking others, which made the situation frustrating."

Although the floor leadership resigned the day before, taking some responsibility, he explained that it was done under pressure. He said, "(Floor Leader Park) did not express his intention to resign for quite some time," adding, "Through other party officials who attended the Supreme Council at the time, it was conveyed that it was not a resignation and that he had no intention of stepping down." When the host asked, "So was it a resignation under pressure?" he replied, "That was how I understood it on site."

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