Lee Jae-myung Press Conference, Han Dong-hoon Says, "Things to Say in Front of the Judge"

On the 23rd, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference to clarify the 'Daejang-dong and Seongnam FC sponsorship allegations,' and Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, said, "It seems there is no new story other than your words getting harsher," adding, "You can present the contents of the press conference before a judge."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice

Minister Han made these remarks while attending the plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and meeting with reporters, stating, "If, as Lee claims, everything is fabricated and there is no evidence at all, then any judge in South Korea would 100% not issue an arrest warrant."

He added, "(The warrant review) is a good opportunity to resolve various judicial risks early at once," and argued, "The public will be curious about the reason for refusing that and trying to hide behind privilege."

He also explained, "Everyone would think it's 'bulletproof,' wouldn't they? But if you read the arrest warrant request carefully, such claims as Lee's will not come up."

Earlier that morning, Lee criticized, "We are entering an era of violence where judicial hunting disguised as the rule of law is becoming routine," and said, "Politics has disappeared, and an era of barbarism where only domination runs rampant has come again."

Lee refuted the charges listed in the prosecution's arrest warrant against him. He pointed out, "The warrant barely contains Lee Jae-myung as the subject; it is an arrest warrant without Lee Jae-myung," and added, "Looking at such absurd warrant contents, I strongly feel it is not an arrest warrant to persuade a judge but a propaganda tool for public relations."

Previously, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Eom Hee-jun) and Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Kang Baek-shin) requested an arrest warrant for Lee on charges including breach of trust under the Specific Economic Crimes Act, violation of the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act and the Anti-Corruption Act, bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and violation of the Act on the Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds.

Lee holds the status of a sitting member of the National Assembly. The court can hold a pre-arrest suspect hearing (warrant review) only after the National Assembly passes a consent motion for arrest. The Speaker of the National Assembly receives the request and reports it at the first plenary session convened thereafter, and a plenary session must be held within '24 hours after the report and within 72 hours' to conduct a secret ballot vote. The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to hold plenary sessions on the 24th and 27th. Accordingly, after the consent motion for arrest is reported to the National Assembly on the 24th, it is expected to be put to a vote on the 27th. The motion passes if a majority of the total members are present and a majority of those present vote in favor.