Lee Jung-mi "Ha Young-je should have exceeded 200 votes... Need for self-reflection on immunity from arrest"

The arrest motion for Hayoungje, a member of the People Power Party, was passed the previous day, but there were criticisms that the number of votes in favor was excessively low compared to expectations. Lee Jungmi, leader of the Justice Party, criticized, saying, "In the end, isn't this just protecting their own members?"

On the 31st, Lee said on KBS's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' "The People Power Party declared that they should give up their privileges, and the Democratic Party said they would agree to arrest motions for individual members' corruption, but the number of votes in favor was much lower than expected," she said.

The previous day's arrest motion for Representative Ha was passed with 160 votes in favor, 99 against, and 22 abstentions out of 281 members present. The arrest motion is passed by a majority of the total members present and a majority (141 seats) of those present. Only 56% of the total members voted in favor. Lee said, "Considering the reactions of the two parties before the vote the previous day, an overwhelming result should have come out," and when asked by the host if "more than 200 votes should have been obtained," she replied, "Yes."

Although both sides shouted that they would vote in favor, there is criticism that they actually protected their own members. She said, "The result came out with just over a majority, but in the end, behind the secret ballot, the members ended up protecting their own," and pointed out, "Representative Ha made a personal statement the previous day about the presumption of innocence and the people's right to defense, but these two principles always become exceptions for the opposing party."

She then emphasized the need to "give up privileges." Lee said, "Also, ordinary citizens, no matter how unfairly treated, have to go to court for a warrant review," and added, "In that sense, I hope this incident becomes an opportunity for lawmakers to give up their privileges and for self-reflection to arise properly so that judicial procedures develop equally."

Some argue that with the passage of Representative Ha's arrest motion, the Democratic Party may feel burdened during the next arrest motion vote for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party. When asked by the host what she would do if another arrest motion for Lee is submitted, she said, "The Justice Party's basic stance is to approach the vote according to basic principles," and added, "I think the Democratic Party will be quite embarrassed in various ways."