'Sohwan D-2' Lee Jae-myung Proposes "5 Trillion Won Pinset Inflation Support"... Aggressive Focus on Livelihoods

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Park Jun-i] Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, continued his efforts to win public support on the 26th, two days before his scheduled appearance at the prosecution over the 'Daejang-dong and Wirye development corruption allegations.'

On the morning of the same day, Lee held an 'Emergency Countermeasure Meeting for Heating Cost Bombs in Democratic Party Local Governments and Councils' at the National Assembly and proposed to the central government a plan to provide 'energy high-price support funds' amounting to 7.5 trillion won.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the "Emergency Countermeasure Meeting of Democratic Party Local Governments and Councils on Heating Cost Bomb" held at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee said, "The Democratic Party proposed a government support and emergency livelihood project worth about 30 trillion won, including targeted price support funds to alleviate the public's pain from rising prices, but we have not received a clear response from the government," adding, "Today, we intend to propose to the central government to replace the existing 5 trillion won targeted price support funds with about 7.5 trillion won in energy high-price support funds." He emphasized that if the government does not actively provide the energy high-price support funds, the Democratic Party's local governments will mobilize available resources to devise countermeasures, highlighting the opposition party's active stance on 'livelihood issues.'

Following this, Lee spent the morning attending a series of events at 30-minute intervals, addressing not only livelihood issues but also national affairs. As a member of the National Assembly's Defense Committee, Lee attended the full Defense Committee meeting at 10 a.m., where he received a briefing on the recent intrusion of a North Korean drone into South Korean airspace on the 26th of last month. During the meeting, ruling and opposition parties clashed over the government's inadequate response and accountability of responsible officials. Afterward, Lee chaired a 'Meeting with Victims of State Violence and Experts' and then traveled to Jeollabuk-do for a one-night, two-day schedule to listen to public opinion.

On the same day, he planned to conduct a 'Listening Tour into the People' by visiting a Hanwoo cattle farm and livestock market in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do, and holding a policy meeting with livestock farmers. In the evening, he intended to continue the livelihood-focused agenda by holding a 'Visiting Public Report Meeting' at the Jeonju Korean Traditional Culture Center. On the following day, the 27th, Lee was scheduled to preside over a Supreme Council meeting in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, and visit Gunsan Public Market, completing a packed schedule of public opinion listening until the day before his prosecution summons. The initial prosecution request for his appearance on the 27th was postponed to Saturday the 28th, citing "work obligations during the week," which is interpreted as a sign of his commitment to focusing on livelihood issues.

Meanwhile, on the 28th, Lee is expected to appear at the prosecution alone at the photo line, accompanied only by his lawyer. Although about 40 lawmakers, including party leadership, accompanied him on the 10th, this time he appears determined to attend alone, likely to avoid the collective action being perceived as a 'party-level' response. It is known that even within the pro-Lee faction, advice was given for him to appear alone during the previous summons.

However, within the party, there are voices calling for the rejection of the arrest warrant approval for Lee, judging that the prosecution has already decided on a 'pre-determined indictment.' On the same day, pro-Lee lawmaker Kim Nam-guk said on MBC Radio, "We predict that the prosecution will request an arrest warrant," and stated that if a vote on the arrest warrant approval is held in the National Assembly, it should be rejected. He said, "This is a clear case of opposition suppression," and added, "Even as a defense against an investigation aimed at eliminating political opponents, the arrest warrant approval must be rejected."