[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] "Paralyzing the National Assembly for self-protection and making everyone ashamed" (Yang Geum-hee, Senior Spokesperson of the People Power Party)
"If you continue to respond with 'no questions' even after listening to the recorded conversation, you will be labeled as the 'Kim Geon-hee Shield Party'" (Park Hong-geun, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party)
Although the 'budget showdown' that dragged on throughout December amid a strong confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties has come to an end, the National Assembly has once again fallen into the whirlpool of a 'judicial showdown.' After the prosecution notified Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to appear on the 28th regarding the Seongnam FC sponsorship fund allegations, and Lee expressed his intention to refuse to appear, the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties has intensified.
According to political circles on the 27th, Lee plans to refuse to appear on the 28th, the date the prosecution summoned him for investigation. Lee told reporters at the National Assembly the previous day, "I already have a fixed schedule and a plenary session is scheduled, so it is difficult to go immediately," adding, "After that, I will negotiate and decide on a possible date and investigation method through my lawyer." He added, "The prosecution's behavior is utterly incomprehensible, but I will face it confidently." Considering the internal backlash within the party regarding Lee's judicial risks, he intends to respond confidently to the prosecution's investigation but will refuse to appear on the 28th, which was unilaterally notified by the prosecution.
The ruling party has claimed that the Democratic Party of Korea has obstructed the process of passing the new year's budget and supplementary budget bills due to Lee's judicial risks. In response, the Democratic Party also counterattacked by pulling out the card of the 'Kim Geon-hee Shield Party.' Both major parties constituting the legislative branch of the Republic of Korea have degenerated into a 'Shield National Assembly Group.'
However, despite the troubled confrontation between the Shield National Assembly Groups, there are key points to watch.
Prosecution sends 'fax summons' to Lee Jae-myung... Opposition says "Won't respond to unreasonable investigation"
In the first part, 'Lee Jae-myung Shield,' the key issue is Lee's photo line schedule. Lee firmly stated that he cannot appear on the 28th, the date the prosecution summoned him, because the party's Supreme Council meeting is already scheduled. Speaking for the first time about the prosecution summons, Lee said, "I already have fixed schedules and a plenary session is scheduled, so it seems difficult to go immediately," adding, "I will negotiate and decide on a possible date and investigation method."
This is interpreted as a refusal to be dragged along by the prosecution's unilateral notification. Senior Spokesperson Ahn said at a press conference after the Supreme Council meeting on the 26th, "The prosecution unilaterally sent the summons by fax, violating the regulation that requires consultation when notifying." At an afternoon back briefing, he added, "The behavior of unilaterally notifying is outrageous. Regarding the 28th appearance, how can we be dragged there while the opposition leader is being insulted like this?" He continued, "There is a widespread opinion within the party that if the prosecution continues to investigate unreasonably like this, there is no need to comply and we must respond strongly."
Attention should also be paid to whether the National Assembly will pass the arrest motion for Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Woong-rae at this week's plenary session. The arrest motion for Noh, who has a detention warrant requested on bribery charges, is currently expected to be rejected. However, if rejected, the party cannot be free from criticism of being a 'shield' that defended him. Especially considering Lee's upcoming prosecution schedule, the rejection of Noh's arrest motion could be interpreted as the Democratic Party opening the lid of the 'Shield Party,' making the party's 'protecting Lee Jae-myung' inevitably burdensome.
Whether Noh Woong-rae's arrest motion passes at the plenary session on the 28th is also a key point
In the second part, 'Kim Geon-hee Shield,' attention is focused on the prosecution conducting an investigation into Deutsche Motors stock manipulation. The prosecution recently created an Excel file named 'Kim Geon-hee' and indicted an executive of a related investment advisory firm on charges of involvement in stock manipulation by former Deutsche Motors Chairman Kwon Oh-soo. Kwon was sentenced to 8 years in prison for stock manipulation charges related to Deutsche Motors. The issue is whether Mrs. Kim Geon-hee played the role of a 'jeonju'?a financier who provided money for stock manipulation?in this case. Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, highlighted the recorded conversation of Choi Eun-soon, mother-in-law of President Yoon Seok-youl, saying, "I told Kwon Oh-soo to sell quickly," during a meeting the previous morning. He criticized, "Despite such vivid voice evidence, is the presidential family above the law?" and added, "The prosecution neither summons Mrs. Kim for questioning nor even conducts a written investigation."
The dynamic duo of Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, who will engage in this process, cannot be overlooked. Having already concluded the first round over the 'Hannam-dong drinking party' controversy, they are expected to sharpen their arguments further. Minister Han criticized the Democratic Party for producing a web poster containing the names and photos of 16 prosecutors investigating Lee, calling it 'public shaming and targeting.' In response to Kim's comment that "dark history must be recorded," Minister Han retorted, "It will be recorded in history that the majority party tried to undermine the rule of law." Kim then urged the investigation into Mrs. Kim, firing back at Minister Han, "In July at the National Assembly, you said, 'We have been investigating Mrs. Kim Geon-hee diligently, and a decision will be made soon,' but more than five months have passed. When is the 'soon' you mentioned?"
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