Approval of Lee Jae-myung's Arrest Motion... Ruling Party: "Start of Political Innovation" Opposition: "Unbelievable"

Yang Yi-won-yeong "What Should We Do Now?"
Jo Kyung-tae "Common Sense and Conscience Must Be Preserved"
Ha Tae-gyeong "People Power Must Innovate or Face Obsolescence"

On the 21st, during the vote on the arrest motion for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, held at the National Assembly, the motion was passed with 149 votes in favor and 136 against, revealing a stark contrast in reactions between ruling and opposition party members. While ruling party figures positively evaluated it as "the beginning of political innovation," opposition members expressed disbelief and embarrassment, saying "I can't believe it."

Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Yi-won-young posted on her social media immediately after the vote results were announced, "Out of 295 votes, 149 were in favor. It is around 4:40 PM on September 21, 2023. Given the discussions we've had, I can't believe that 28 of our party members voted in favor. What should we do now?" she lamented.

Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo declared the approval of the arrest motion against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu also said, "This is the National Assembly plenary session. I am sorry and saddened," adding, "I still believed in the progress of history. I still believed in my fellow lawmakers. I am at a loss. I apologize again. Nevertheless, the Earth still revolves."

Park Ji-won, a senior figure in the Democratic Party and former director of the National Intelligence Service, said, "Something that should not have happened occurred in the National Assembly," but added, "However, the decision of the National Assembly must be respected. The Democratic Party, having lost the cow, must at least fix the barn."

He indicated that there is still hope for the rejection of the arrest warrant. He said, "The National Assembly's decision does not necessarily lead to the court's approval of the arrest warrant," and added, "We must humbly wait for the wise decision of the judiciary and make thorough preparations in court for the rejection."

In the vote on the arrest motion that day, 295 out of 298 members participated, with 149 in favor, 136 against, 6 abstentions, and 4 invalid votes, resulting in the motion's passage. The number of votes in favor exceeded the required quorum for passage (148) by one.

On the other hand, ruling party figures gave positive evaluations of the motion's passage. Kim Byung-wook, a member of the People Power Party, posted on social media immediately after the announcement, "Justice will prevail, albeit belatedly!" This appears to be a reference to Yang Yi-won-young's earlier comment calling the passage of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo "justice will prevail."

Cho Kyung-tae, also from the People Power Party, said, "The National Assembly's passage of the arrest motion is truly fortunate and a relief. Common sense and conscience have been upheld," adding, "It was a difficult and challenging process, but it should serve as an opportunity to relinquish the parliamentary immunity from arrest."

Yoo Kyung-joon, another People Power Party lawmaker, said, "In the 'Ga' ballot indicating support for the arrest motion, every stroke and character conveyed a sense of urgency," adding, "Justice will prevail. I hope it receives the stern judgment of history."

Jang Ye-chan, the youth supreme council member of the People Power Party, said, "I thank the lawmakers within the Democratic Party who have common sense and courage," adding, "I will not forget that the opposition also has a healthy last conscience."

There are also voices calling for the ruling party to embark on political innovation following this. Ha Tae-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker who anticipated the passage of the arrest motion, wrote on social media, "The passage of the arrest motion for Lee Jae-myung! The end of bulletproof politics, the beginning of political innovation," but also said, "If the People Power Party does not innovate, it will be left behind," urging the People Power Party to also pursue political innovation.