Kim Geun-sik "Not the atmosphere to talk about 'approval' in the opposition camp"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was transported to a hospital on the morning of the 18th due to health issues on the 19th day of his hunger strike. Meanwhile, the prosecution has requested an arrest warrant for Lee in connection with the Baekhyeon-dong and North Korea remittance allegations, leading to growing calls for the party to adopt a resolution to reject the arrest consent motion. However, Hyun Geun-taek, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute of the Democratic Party, expressed skepticism about adopting a party resolution, saying, "It should be left to individuals' opinions."
On the 18th, Deputy Director Hyun said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "(Regarding the rejection of the arrest consent motion) I'm not sure if it will be decided as a party resolution. Because, looking at any party so far, there haven't been many cases where this was decided as a party resolution," he said.
Within the party, opinions on the arrest consent motion are divided along factional lines, but as sympathy for Lee grows stronger, voices advocating for the rejection of the arrest consent motion are becoming louder.
The ruling party is highly likely to reject the arrest consent motion. Kim Geun-sik, former Vision Strategy Office chief of the People Power Party, who appeared on the radio together that day, raised his voice, saying, "Today, the leader went to the hospital again, but in this situation, not only the pro-Lee faction but also the anti-Lee faction will openly say that it must be approved. And since they gave up the privilege of non-arrest and made a promise, they have to keep it. Would such an atmosphere arise?"
He continued, "Because Lee's determination to risk prison nomination was revealed to the public through this hunger strike, unless he resigns, the nomination will be made under his leadership," adding, "The strong supporters are united to protect Lee, so who would dare to oppose and vote for approval?"
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office requested an arrest warrant for Lee on charges of breach of trust under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, bribery under the same act, subornation of perjury, and violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. The vote on the arrest consent motion for the arrest warrant is expected to take place as early as the 21st.
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