Lee Won-wook "Disheveled Appearance Remarks Likely to Stir Significant Sympathy"
As the vote on the arrest consent bill for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is scheduled for the afternoon of the 21st, there is speculation that Lee, who is on a hospital bed fasting, may attend the National Assembly in a wheelchair. Kim Min-seok, chairman of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, stated, "There has been no discussion about that."
Chairman Kim said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that day, "Since he is currently in the hospital, I am not sure if it is possible for him to attend while riding a wheelchair."
He added, "The fasting has exceeded 20 days, and he is continuing to fast even in bed," and "Typically, after about 7 to 8 days, it becomes almost impossible to move."
He continued, "Even in that situation, when the plenary session is held at the National Assembly, he tried to attend and sit for a short time. So if he were not currently in the hospital, he would have tried to speak or attend somehow."
When asked whether the leadership discussed 'wheelchair attendance' for Lee, he said, "The leadership has never requested or suggested that," and "it is difficult for us to ask him to attend in his current condition."
However, there is also speculation that Lee might risk 'wheelchair attendance' to lead public opinion against the rejection of the arrest consent bill on site. Lee Won-wook, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal', "Quite a few people are speculating that way (wheelchair attendance)," and "Someone asked a lawmaker close to Lee, sent a text message and asked, but there was no response. Then, isn't there a real possibility?"
He added, "If he comes out now in a wheelchair looking as gaunt as possible and makes a personal statement, the sympathy generated on site could be quite significant."
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