Hyuncheokhoe Emphasizes Active Response by Democratic Party
Lee Reiterates "Attending Alone"
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met with the party's first-term hardliners group called 'Cheoreomhoe' ahead of his appearance before the prosecution. First-term lawmakers reportedly conveyed to the leader that the party needs to respond actively to the prosecution's investigation.
On the afternoon of the 25th, Lee met with members of Cheoreomhoe at a hotel in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and had lunch for about an hour. Previously, on the day before, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk stated on Facebook, "This lunch meeting has been planned since early last month," adding, "It was arranged comfortably to hear various opinions on current issues."
Attending the meeting were Cheoreomhoe members including Kim Yong-min, Hwang Un-ha, Choi Hye-young, Jang Kyung-tae, Choi Kang-wook, Yoon Young-duk, Yang Yi-won-young, Kang Min-jung, Min Byung-duk, Jeong Pil-mo, Kim Nam-guk, Min Byung-duk, as well as Supreme Council member Park Chan-dae.
It is known that opinions on how to respond to the prosecution's investigation were presented during the lunch. Democratic Party lawmaker Min Byung-duk, who attended the lunch, told reporters, "I conveyed various public sentiments such as 'The Democratic Party should respond more strongly,' and the leader listened candidly," adding, "He said things like 'The Democratic Party is being oppressed, isn't the prosecution going too far? Isn't the Democratic Party's role necessary?'"
However, regarding Lee's appearance before the prosecution, he said, "There was no mention about the prosecution appearance. Didn't the leader already say he would appear before the prosecution?"
Regarding Cheoreomhoe's future action plans, he said, "We plan to discuss further," and added, "There is general agreement that we cannot stand by idly regarding prosecutorial dictatorship while observing public sentiment."
Members of the 'Cheoreomhoe' group, formed by Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, and Kim Nam-guk, member of the Democratic Party of Korea, are leaving the press conference room after holding a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 7th, urging the transfer and investigation of the 'Yoon Seok-yeol Former Prosecutor General Judge Surveillance Case.' Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
Lee is scheduled to appear before the prosecution on the 28th concerning allegations related to the 'Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town development projects.' It is known that Lee has repeatedly expressed his intention to appear alone before the prosecution. However, within the party, there is also a sentiment that collective action at the party level is necessary, as repeated summonses of a sitting opposition leader by the prosecution are unprecedented.
Democratic Party spokesperson Lim Oh-kyung said during a mid-briefing of a closed Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that morning, "The leader firmly told the party leadership that he would appear with his lawyer without bringing other lawmakers."
Regarding voluntary attendance by lawmakers, she explained, "(The leader) said it is up to the lawmakers to decide separately," adding, "If lawmakers decide to appear, we cannot stop them from coming, can we?"
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