[2025 Audit] Dispute Over Lee Jinsuk's Arrest... Ruling Party: "Lawful," Opposition: "Premeditated" (Comprehensive)

Park Sumin: "Warrants Issued in Rapid Succession"
Park Junghyun: "Giving Six Chances Was Excessively Lenient"

The ruling and opposition parties clashed over the arrest of former Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jinsuk during the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee’s audit on October 17.

Former Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jinsuk is being escorted to Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul on the 2nd and is speaking to the press. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee Dalhee, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, “Who in the presidential office directly ordered the arrest of the former chairperson? Since democratization, it is hard to find any precedent where the physical freedom of a figure in opposition to the administration has been so forcefully restricted. President Lee Jaemyung took office while his own trials were delayed on multiple charges-what would the public say about this?”

Park Sumin, also from the People Power Party, pointed out, “Arrest warrants were issued in rapid succession over two months, accumulating the number of warrants, and then executed. This should be seen as a premeditated arrest.”

Seo Beomsu, another People Power Party lawmaker, said, “It is regrettable that the Democratic Party unilaterally refused to call the former chairperson as a witness. This undermines the very purpose of the audit. There is a saying that those who hide are the culprits.” He continued, “I requested the voluntary appearance of the head of Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul and the chief of the second investigation division in connection with this case. However, upon checking, they have not appeared at the audit. This raises suspicions that it was not their own decision, but rather that someone instructed them not to attend.”

The Democratic Party countered the People Power Party’s accusations. Lee Sangshik, a Democratic Party lawmaker, stated, “The arrest of the former chairperson was lawful. However, there are regrettable aspects regarding the timing and manner of the execution.”

Park Junghyun, another Democratic Party member, said, “Ordinary citizens are usually arrested after just one or two attempts. The former chairperson was given six chances-wasn’t this being too lenient?”

Yoo Jaeseong, acting commissioner of the National Police Agency, commented on the arrest, saying, “We conducted the investigation in accordance with the law and proper procedures.”