149 Votes in Favor, 136 Against, 6 Abstentions, 4 Invalid Votes
The arrest motion against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been indicted on suspicion of preferential treatment in the development of Baekhyun-dong and allegations of remittance to North Korea by Ssangbangwool Group, was passed at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 21st. This is the first time in constitutional history that an arrest motion against a party leader has been approved. Accordingly, Lee will undergo a warrant review by the court.
In the plenary session vote on the arrest motion that day, 295 out of 298 members participated, with 149 votes in favor, 136 against, 4 invalid, and 6 abstentions, resulting in approval.
An arrest motion is passed if a majority of the total members are present and a majority of those present vote in favor. For Lee's arrest motion to pass, a majority of the 295 members present, i.e., 148 or more, needed to vote in favor. Including 110 members of the People Power Party who had already expressed support for approval (excluding Foreign Minister Park Jin), 6 from the Justice Party, Assemblyman Cho Jeong-hoon of the Transition Korea Party, Assemblywoman Yang Hyang-ja of Korea Hope, and independents Ha Young-je and Hwang Bo-seung-hee, totaling 120, plus at least 28 members from the Democratic Party needed to vote in favor. Since 149 votes were cast in favor that day, it appears that at least 29 Democratic Party members voted for approval.
Earlier, a day before the vote (on the 20th), Lee posted a lengthy message on Facebook effectively requesting a 'rejection' vote, saying, "Please stop the runaway locomotive of prosecutorial dictatorship."
Lee said, "The approval of this clearly illegal and unjust arrest motion will give wings to the political prosecution's fabricated investigation," adding, "We must not succumb to the tricks of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's unjust abuse of state power and the political prosecution's political machinations without properly resisting them." He also said, "This fight is not just between Lee Jae-myung and the prosecution. Please stop the runaway locomotive of prosecutorial dictatorship in front of the National Assembly and protect the constitutional order and democracy that are in crisis."
Although the party leader personally called for a 'rejection' vote, a large number of defections from the Democratic Party occurred that day, making it inevitable that Lee's leadership will be damaged in the future. In particular, internal strife within the Democratic Party, such as the 'subak (a derogatory term for non-Lee Jae-myung faction members) purge' centered around Lee's staunch supporters, may intensify. Among staunch supporters, a list of members who voted for approval in this vote, called the 'subak list,' is reportedly circulating.
In front of the National Assembly building road that day, Lee's supporters advocating for the 'rejection' of the arrest motion and conservative groups calling for 'approval' gathered and clashed. Lee's supporters wore blue headbands, scarves, and hats, holding placards with slogans such as "Lee Jae-myung must survive for the Democratic Party to survive." Some supporters were seen shedding tears after the arrest motion was approved.
Until just before the vote, the Democratic Party leadership appealed for 'rejection' but held an emergency Supreme Council meeting during the plenary session to discuss countermeasures. Lee So-young, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, told reporters after the vote, "The result was unexpected, so it is very surprising and shocking." She added, "The leadership appealed to members several times to reject the motion, so it is regrettable that a different result came out," and said, "We will urgently gather to discuss the future situation and countermeasures."
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