Minjoo Holds Emergency Meeting on 'Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye Pardons' at National Assembly on 3rd... Intense Debate Within Party

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, convened an emergency Supreme Council meeting to discuss the pardon of former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

According to the Democratic Party on the 3rd, the meeting called by Lee will be held at 3 p.m. that day at the National Assembly. Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party, and Supreme Council members are expected to attend. Lee is anticipated to explain the background of his recent proposal for pardons during an interview and attempt to persuade the members.

Earlier, on the 1st, Lee said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency, “I will recommend the pardon of the two former presidents to President Moon Jae-in at an appropriate time.” There has been strong opposition within the party to Lee’s remarks.

Assemblyman Woo Sang-ho pointed out, “It is worrisome as it could lead to national division,” and added, “It is inappropriate both in terms of timing and content.” Assemblyman Park Joo-min also wrote on Facebook, “It is hard to understand who and what this is for,” while Assemblyman Kim Nam-guk criticized, “It goes against the will of the Candlelight protests.” On the Democratic Party’s rights holders’ bulletin board, posts such as ‘Oppose the pardon,’ ‘Ruining the party,’ and ‘Let’s hold a re-endorsement vote for the leader’ have been posted.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, told reporters after visiting the National Cemetery on the 1st, “I have never heard of any talk about a pardon recommendation so far,” and “Even when I met (Lee) last time, I never heard such a thing.” Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, also criticized after visiting the National Cemetery, saying, “If there is an attempt to use the pardon of former presidents for election purposes, it is unacceptable.”