"You're a Watermelon Too, Congressman"…Opposition's Hardcore Supporters Launch Hunt for Defectors

'Text Bombs' Sent to Bimyeong-gye Lawmakers
'Subak List' Shared in Community
Lee Sang-min "Expecting Strong Protests"

The Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who was confident of an overwhelming rejection, faced at least 31 dissenting votes in the vote on the arrest motion, plunging the Democratic Party into chaos.

In this situation, some of Lee’s staunch supporters are showing movements to identify the dissenting votes. They are sending probing text messages to lawmakers suspected of casting dissenting votes, and an 'expected dissenting vote list' is even circulating on online communities.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is seen conversing with fellow lawmakers after delivering a personal statement regarding the submission of a motion for his arrest at the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 27th, the arrest motion against Lee, held at the National Assembly plenary session, saw 297 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties participate in the vote, resulting in 139 votes in favor, 138 against, 11 invalid votes, and 9 abstentions. The arrest motion requires a majority of the total members of the National Assembly present, with at least 149 votes in favor to pass.

Initially, the Democratic Party was confident that more than 170 votes would reject the motion. The result was completely different. On that day, all Democratic Party lawmakers attended the vote, and considering the number of seats (169), it is estimated that at least 31 cast dissenting votes. Assuming that independent lawmakers formerly from the Democratic Party and Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party also voted against the motion, the number of dissenting votes rises to about 38.

The party leadership emphasized unity before the vote and focused on internal cohesion, but the result revealed internal anxiety and dissatisfaction that it would be difficult to win next year’s general election under Lee’s leadership, which is embroiled in judicial risks.

Meanwhile, among Lee’s staunch supporters, so-called 'Gaeddal' (a nickname for fervent female supporters), a movement to identify 'subak' (a term referring to pro-opposition lawmakers) is emerging. 'Subak' is a slang term meaning 'watermelon,' implying a difference between the outside and inside?externally Democratic Party but internally People Power Party?and is mainly used online.

On the Naver community 'Jaemyeong’s Village,' a supporter community for Lee, posts such as 'Subak list' and 'Estimated 38 Democratic Party dissenting votes!! Let’s identify them' are flooding the bulletin board. Even pro-government online communities are creating and sharing lists of lawmakers whose facts have not been verified.

A netizen's text message inquiry to Rep. Lee So-young of the Democratic Party of Korea regarding the vote on the arrest motion for Representative Lee Jae-myung./Online community capture

One netizen even captured and verified a screen showing a text message sent directly to a lawmaker’s office. This netizen, who inquired at the office of Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-young, asked via text message, "Just checking, did you vote in favor or against? You are on the Subak list." The lawmaker’s office replied, "She voted against. She has repeatedly emphasized the unfairness of the prosecution’s investigation through broadcasts."

Another netizen posted a message titled "Lawmaker OO is intimidating me. It’s scary," sharing a screenshot of a text message sent to the lawmaker. According to the message, when the netizen said, "This time, the Subak certification was spot on," the lawmaker replied, "I voted against, so if you talk recklessly, I won’t stay quiet." The netizen expressed displeasure in the post, saying, "Isn’t this a kind of threat? What right does a party member have to silence others?"

Within the party, there are voices of concern about the identification efforts by the staunch supporters. On the 28th, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-min said in an interview with CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show' that lawmakers are becoming intimidated by the 'text bomb' from hardline supporters, describing the situation as "difficult to quote on air."

However, Lee added, "It’s not that lawmakers voted in favor or abstained or cast invalid votes without anticipating such strong protests," and he believes that this vote will lead to "more lawmakers expressing their convictions more strongly and realistically."