Hong Jun-pyo: "Lee Jae-myung Should Face the Warrant Hearing Like Himself and Boldly Break Through Head-On"

"Arrest Bill Means to Undergo Review, Not Immediate Detention"
"Failing That Shows a Sense of Privilege"

Prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is under suspicion of preferential treatment in the Baekhyeon-dong development project and alleged remittance to North Korea by Ssangbangwool Group. In response, Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, advised, "I hope he undergoes the warrant hearing and boldly faces the challenge."

On the 19th, Mayor Hong posted on his Facebook, stating, "A motion for consent to arrest does not mean immediate detention but a request to undergo a warrant hearing. Refusing even that seems like an expression of a sense of privilege," expressing his opinion.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is shaking hands with Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, at the Sanggyeok Office of Daegu City Hall on the afternoon of the 10th. 2023.5.10
[Photo by Yonhap News]

He mentioned, "Not long ago, a ruling party lawmaker's motion for consent to arrest was approved, and although the warrant hearing was held, the arrest warrant was dismissed, resulting in a non-custodial indictment."

He continued, "The past two tedious years have been marked by news of refusing even to attend the warrant hearing. This time, undergo the hearing and boldly face the challenge. Isn't that what being Lee Jae-myung is about?"

On the 18th, when prosecutors requested the arrest warrant for Lee, who was on a hunger strike, he was transferred to a hospital due to deteriorating health. Lee began his hunger strike on the 31st of last month, demanding a government overhaul and a full cabinet reshuffle under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

Meanwhile, sitting members of the National Assembly have immunity from arrest, requiring parliamentary consent before an arrest warrant hearing. Unless caught in the act, a sitting lawmaker cannot be arrested without the consent of the National Assembly during its session.

The motion for consent to arrest Lee is expected to be reported at the National Assembly plenary session as early as the 20th and may be put to a vote on the 21st. If approved, Lee will undergo the court's warrant hearing. If rejected, the warrant will be dismissed without a hearing.