Lee Jae-myung Issues First Statement After Arrest Approval Passage: "Democratic Party's Shortcomings, Please Become the Owner and Fix Them"

"The river does not flow straight but always heads to the sea"
"The political group to fight Yoon Seok-yeol's tyranny is the Democratic Party"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 22nd regarding the approval of the arrest consent motion, "The shortcomings of the Democratic Party should be filled, criticized, and corrected by becoming the owners of the Democratic Party."

In a statement released that day, Lee said, "Please protect the Democratic Party and democracy beyond Lee Jae-myung, and protect the people and the country," adding, "Please unite your strength behind the Democratic Party to prevent the destruction of democracy, livelihood, and peace by the prosecutor dictatorship regime. If we can unite all the capabilities of the party as one, we will surely win." Currently hospitalized at Green Hospital due to a hunger strike, Lee released this statement through the party.

In the plenary session of the National Assembly held the previous day, the arrest consent motion for Lee was voted on with 295 out of 298 members present participating, resulting in 149 votes in favor, 136 against, 4 invalid votes, and 6 abstentions, thus passing. It is estimated that at least 29 members of the Democratic Party voted in favor of the arrest consent motion.

Lee said, "I will do my utmost so that the Democratic Party can become a more reformist Democratic Party, a more competent Democratic Party, and a more democratic Democratic Party," adding, "Rivers do not flow straight but always flow to the sea," and "History has always progressed while repeating itself." He continued, "Ultimately, the people have won and will win," and said, "I will trust the people and advance unwaveringly."

The statement prominently expressed concerns about the prosecution. Lee claimed, "Our history has always repeated advances and retreats," explaining, "After the April 19 Revolution overthrew the dictatorship regime, a military coup broke out; after the June Struggle secured popular sovereignty, the military collusion forces returned under a different face. Now, after driving out the state corruption forces with candlelight protests, the prosecution cartel squeezed into the gap and seized power."

He continued, "We must stop the rampage and regression of the prosecutor dictatorship regime and protect livelihood and democracy," adding, "The political group that will fight against the tyranny of the Yoon Seok-youl administration is the Democratic Party. If the Democratic Party collapses, the oppression of the prosecution dictatorship will intensify, and the damage will fall entirely on the people."

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