Ministry of Justice Requests National Assembly's Consent to Arrest Lee Jae-myung... Vote Expected on the 21st

On the 19th, the Ministry of Justice requested the National Assembly's consent to arrest Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been indicted on suspicion of 'special favors in Baekhyeon-dong development' and 'Ssangbangwool Group's remittance to North Korea.'

The leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Jae-myung, who was fasting, was transported from the National Assembly to a hospital on the 18th due to deteriorating health. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Justice sent the arrest consent proposal to the National Assembly in the morning after receiving President Yoon Seok-yeol's approval on the request for consent to arrest Lee submitted by the Seoul Central District Court to the prosecution.

According to the National Assembly Act, the Speaker of the National Assembly must report the request for consent to arrest at the first plenary session convened after receiving the request, and the vote must be held 'within 72 hours after 24 hours' from the time of the report. If the deadline is missed, the proposal must be submitted and voted on at the next plenary session. Accordingly, the arrest consent proposal is expected to be reported to the plenary session on the 20th and voted on the 21st.

The arrest consent proposal passes if a majority of the total members present and voting approve it. If passed, the court holds a pre-arrest suspect hearing (warrant review). If rejected, the court dismisses the warrant without review.

The Democratic Party, to which Lee belongs, holds 167 seats, a majority of the total 297 seats in the National Assembly, thus holding the key to the vote. Although Lee previously declared the waiver of parliamentary immunity, as he continues his 'bedside hunger strike,' there is analysis that the party atmosphere has changed, and many members may vote against, leading to the rejection of the arrest consent proposal.

Earlier, on February 16, the prosecution filed the first arrest warrant against Lee by combining the cases of 'special favors in Wirye and Daejang-dong development' and 'illegal donations to Seongnam FC,' but on February 27, the National Assembly rejected the arrest consent proposal, and the court dismissed the arrest warrant. Subsequently, the prosecution referred Lee to trial without detention on March 22.