Minju, Lee Retains Leadership Position with 'Unanimous Approval' Reversal... Criticism of "Amateur" Within the Party

Jeon Hae-cheol Criticizes 'Suspension from Duty Upon Indictment'
Abstains and Leaves Party Affairs Committee
Kim Jong-min: "Prejudged Indictment and Prejudged Party Affairs Committee"

The Democratic Party of Korea continues to face controversy over its decision to allow party leader Lee Jae-myung, who has been indicted by the prosecution, to retain his party position by recognizing an exception to Article 80 of the party constitution, which stipulates 'suspension of party duties upon indictment.' Contrary to the initial announcement that the Party Affairs Committee unanimously agreed to let Lee keep his position, lawmaker Jeon Hae-cheol expressed concerns, saying, "Shouldn't the duties be suspended immediately upon indictment?" and reportedly abstained and left the meeting. Despite this, the announcement claimed the decision was made with 'unanimous consent,' drawing criticism even within the party, labeling it as "amateurish."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd, Kim Ui-gyeom, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated during a briefing at the National Assembly Communication Office that lawmaker Jeon abstained and left regarding Lee's retention of the party leadership. While the briefing immediately after the Party Affairs Committee meeting the previous day claimed Lee's retention was decided unanimously, this explanation reversed that stance within a day.

According to spokesperson Kim, lawmaker Jeon argued in relation to Article 80, Paragraph 1 of the party constitution, which states that "party officials' duties are suspended immediately upon indictment," that "whether duties are automatically suspended upon indictment should be discussed before judging if it constitutes political oppression."

Other non-mainstream lawmakers also raised procedural legitimacy issues that day. The Democratic Party convened the Party Affairs Committee just six hours after Lee was indicted on allegations of preferential corruption in the Wirye New Town and Daejang-dong development projects and the Seongnam FC sponsorship scandal, applying an exception clause in Article 80 that allows retention of party duties despite indictment. The revised Article 80, Paragraph 3, amended last August, includes a clause for exceptions "if recognized as political oppression," and the party concluded that this indictment qualifies as such. However, some lawmakers pointed out that even if Paragraph 3's exception for political oppression applies, Paragraph 1's condition "among those who have received suspension of duties" should precede it. They criticized that Lee should have undergone the preliminary step of 'suspension of duties' before applying the exception clause, which was avoided.

Lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon also appeared on MBC Radio that morning, stating, "There must be a temporary suspension procedure first to move on to Paragraph 3," and criticized, "Interpreting Article 80, Paragraphs 1 and 3, Lee is someone who should have received the suspension order, but no such order was issued."

Lawmaker Jeon also raised procedural issues during the Party Affairs Committee meeting the previous day, abstaining and leaving, but the briefing later announced that all 69 attendees voted in favor. In response, Jeon reportedly requested the release of his statements made during the meeting, presumably to clarify that Lee's retention was not decided by unanimous consent.

Spokesperson Kim, who had announced the 'unanimous consent' the day before, said on this day, "Regarding the agenda on whether it constitutes political oppression, lawmaker Jeon did not speak, and since he only mentioned the convening procedure, it was expressed as passing without opposition," adding, "Lawmaker Jeon requested that his statements be made public, so I am conveying that."

During the party members' meeting that day, lawmaker Jeon also expressed his views in a free speech. After the meeting, he told reporters, "If I abstained, I should say I abstained, so I explained the reasons for that." Lawmaker Kim Jong-min also criticized the previous day's Party Affairs Committee briefing by saying, "A predetermined indictment and a predetermined Party Affairs Committee," and called the claim of unanimous decision "amateurish."

Meanwhile, Lee said regarding the ongoing internal dissent after the Party Affairs Committee's decision the previous day, "There can be diverse thoughts."

After the party members' meeting, Lee told reporters, "Diversity is the lifeblood of a political party, so there are naturally diverse opinions," adding, "Expressing, collecting, and adjusting those opinions is democracy."