Joo Ho-young "Struggling desperately only leads to bigger harm"
Seong Il-jong "Must go through the prosecution's door" urges resignation
On the 28th, the People Power Party urged Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to resign, saying "the bulletproof shield has been pierced" in relation to the mass defections during the vote on the arrest motion against him.
Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the same day, "It appears that at least 31 and up to 38 Democratic Party lawmakers either supported or abstained from the arrest motion," adding, "We have repeatedly said that Lee's claim that the investigation against him is political persecution is a false assertion."
Joo continued, "It turns out that as many as 38 members of the Democratic Party did not agree with Lee's claim of political persecution," and added, "There is a saying, 'Hyeonaesalsu' (현애살수). When hanging on a cliff, you must let go and leap boldly; struggling desperately only leads to greater harm. This is something Lee must keep in mind."
Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
Joo also claimed that the Democratic Party created a party-level bulletproof system by changing the party constitution through the Party Affairs Committee after the presidential election in August 2022, allowing the suspension of duties of party officials indicted for corruption-related offenses such as bribery and illegal political funds, and requesting investigations by ethics committees at all levels. He pointed out, "The Party Affairs Committee seems to be composed of Lee's people and is trying not to suspend his duties," and criticized, "The public cannot believe that the ruling dominant opposition party changes laws for one person, applies them selectively, and does so without any hesitation."
Seong Il-jong, chairman of the Policy Committee, said, "The righteous Democratic Party lawmakers could not overcome the court of conscience," adding, "As expected, the motion was rejected. The Democratic Party's choice to use the representative authority given by the people to protect a criminal will be forever recorded in history."
Seong further pointed out, "However, the arrest motion against Lee Jae-myung received 139 votes in favor, one more than the votes against," and said, "Lee personally called all 169 Democratic Party lawmakers to plead that he is clean and just, but in the end, lawmakers with conscience could not overcome the court of conscience."
He then said, "Lee must go through the door of the prosecution," and added, "The iron armor of bulletproof protection has already been pierced. I hope he apologizes to the people in front of the door of truth and takes the appropriate responsibility."
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