Despite a personal letter pleading... Vote on Jeong Jeong-sun's arrest motion today

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the afternoon of the 29th, the ruling and opposition parties will hold a plenary session and vote on the arrest consent bill for Jeong Jeong-sun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Jeong is accused of violating the Political Funds Act, the Public Official Election Act, and the Personal Information Protection Act in relation to the April 15 general election. At the plenary session held the previous day (28th) morning during President Moon Jae-in's policy speech, the arrest consent bill for Jeong was reported. The consent bill must be put to a secret ballot vote within 72 hours after 24 hours from the report.

Jeong Jeong-sun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, against whom an arrest warrant was proposed due to allegations of accounting fraud in the 21st general election, is attending the 'President Moon Jae-in's 2021 Budget Address' held at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Jeong has consistently expressed his innocence by sending letters to fellow lawmakers, stating that he cannot comply with the prosecution's summons. Through a letter to lawmakers the previous day, he said, "I did not refuse to appear before the prosecution without just cause, nor did I hide behind the parliamentary immunity from arrest," adding, "It is time to discard either the prosecution's sword or the sword of my fellow lawmakers." He emphasized, "I believe my fellow lawmakers will judge whether the path I am taking is right or wrong." This was essentially an appeal to vote against the arrest consent bill in the plenary session.

When Jeong refused to comply with the prosecution's summons during the National Assembly audit period, he also sent letters to lawmakers. In the letter, he stated, "Due to various misunderstandings and suspicions, I have reached a point where I must explain the circumstances," and added, "The prosecution only began urging my appearance in September, when important legislative activities such as the audit and budget review started." Jeong also said, "I am confident that the court will reveal the facts and truth based on justice. I will sincerely comply with the procedures related to the National Assembly Act that will proceed in the future."

The Democratic Party's floor leadership has repeatedly demanded that Jeong appear before the prosecution, stating, "We have no intention whatsoever of holding a shielded National Assembly." They have also reiterated that if he does not voluntarily appear, they will handle the matter according to the National Assembly Act. The opposition parties share the same stance. Jang Tae-soo, spokesperson for the Justice Party, said in a briefing the previous day, "Jeong criticized the prosecution and said he would take an untraveled path," adding, "Isn't this an expression of hope that fellow travelers, worried that the untraveled path will return as a boomerang, will reject the arrest consent bill? We urge him to go to the prosecution, not the National Assembly," calling for voluntary appearance.

However, since the vote on the arrest consent bill will be conducted by secret ballot, the possibility of rejection cannot be ruled out. The arrest consent bill for a sitting lawmaker requires a majority of the total members present and a majority of those present to pass.