The Democratic Party criticizes Lee Jae-myung's 'Waiver of Immunity' as a "Flip-flop Show and Too Little, Too Late"

Fierce Criticism from Party Leader to Supreme Council Members and Spokesperson
"Doubts Grow Stronger About Sincerity"

On the 19th, the People Power Party fiercely criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for declaring that he would give up his parliamentary immunity, using expressions such as "too little, too late" and "parliamentary immunity renunciation show."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, stated at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, regarding Lee's declaration to give up parliamentary immunity, "It seems to be an attempt to temporarily evade internal party pressure to resign and public demand for resignation, but in any case, it is too little, too late."

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 19th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Kim added, "We must ensure that this promise to give up parliamentary immunity does not become an empty promise repeated," and emphasized, "I hope Lee will clearly explain how he will concretely implement this renunciation promise."

Kim also urged Lee to apologize. Kim said, "Last year, Lee made an election pledge to give up parliamentary immunity but did not keep it, so at the very least, he should have apologized," adding, "He should have corrected and apologized for his own mistakes, such as inheriting the constituency of former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil to seek protection by privilege and clinging to that privilege as if it were his political lifeline."

At the meeting, Supreme Council member Kim Byung-min pointed out, "As public opinion worsened and Lee's last shield, the Kim Eun-kyung Innovation Committee itself, faced a crisis, the highlight of this reluctant innovation show was Lee Jae-myung's parliamentary immunity renunciation show," and criticized, "Since Lee's statements habitually change to evade situations as if nothing happened, I have even more doubts about the sincerity of his words."

Kim further stated, "We will not be fooled once or twice by Lee's dazzling word-changing show," and criticized, "It reminds me of when Lee, during his past presidential candidacy, said 'I respect former President Park Geun-hye,' and after the backlash, changed his words like flipping his palm, saying, 'When I said I respect former President Park, people really thought I respected her.'

Jang Ye-chan, a young Supreme Council member, said, "After all the shielding, merely giving up privileges in words is a shallow trick that mocks the people," and added, "I hope the Democratic Party will pass the amendment to the National Assembly Act, proposed by People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Ui-dong, which includes giving up parliamentary immunity, as a party resolution."

Party spokespersons also joined the criticism of Lee. Yoo Sang-beom, the party's chief spokesperson, pointed out in a statement that day, "Already wearing multiple layers of bulletproof vests and without a single apology, now pretending to make a big decision by saying 'I will comply if an arrest warrant comes' is the height of shamelessness, like watching a 5-minute personal statement." Jeon Ju-hye, the floor spokesperson, also said in a statement, "The public will watch closely whether Lee's declaration today to give up his parliamentary immunity is sincere or just a 'show' to change the situation."