Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, requested a hunger strike and an arrest warrant for the prosecution. Representative Lee has been the subject of several crimes after narrowly losing to President Yoon Suk Yeol in the 2022 presidential election. The Korean prosecution sought a second arrest warrant shortly after Lee was rushed to the country, saying, “The Korean prosecution is about to arrest the leader of the opposition party who is on hunger strike.”
On the morning of the 18th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office requested an arrest warrant for Lee on charges of violating the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, Perjury Teacher, Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.
The court sent a request for consent to arrest to the prosecution in the afternoon of the same day, and President Yoon approved the motion for arrest through electronic approval. On the 19th, the Ministry of Justice received a motion to arrest representative Lee to the National Assembly.
In February, the prosecution filed for an arrest warrant for CEO Lee over allegations of “preferential treatment for the development of Wirye and Daejang-dong” and “illegal donation of Seongnam FC,” but the National Assembly rejected the motion to arrest him.Upon receipt of the arrest motion, the National Assembly is required to vote anonymously within 72 hours after 24 hours reported to the plenary session by the speaker. Therefore, the motion to arrest Lee is expected to be reported to the National Assembly plenary session on the morning of the 20th and put to a vote on the afternoon of the 21st. The consent will be approved by a majority of the members present and a majority of the members present.
Prosecutors request an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-myung in connection with the ‘Baek Hyun-dong and North Korea remittance allegations’ – The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 (Director Um Hee-jun) requested an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-myung, the representative of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is suspected of violating the law on aggravated punishment of certain economic crimes and perjury. However, Lee strongly denied all charges, saying that the “prosecutorial dictatorship” Yoon administration is using the criminal justice system to threaten political opponents (law and ) and damage their reputation, according to the media.In addition, Lee began a hunger strike on the 31st of last month, a means of political protest that was often used during the military dictatorship, the media added.At a press conference marking the first anniversary of his inauguration last month, Lee targeted the current regime, saying, “It is destroying the constitutional order and democracy of the Republic of Korea,” while saying, “I stand at the front and start fasting indefinitely with the determination of my own life to protect it with the people.”At that time, Lee said, “The Yoon Suk Yeoln regime destroyed constitutional order and democracy and declared war on the people. As one of the people, I will start a ‘people’s protest’ against the incompetent violence regime from today, he said.
He called on the Yoon administration to ▲ apologize to the people and change the direction of state affairs ▲ file a complaint with the International Maritime Court for discharging polluted water ▲ renew and reshuffle the government.Former President Moon Jae In and former President Moon Jae In, who joined hands with Lee Jae-myung, visited Green Hospital in Jungnang-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 19th and met with Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is hospitalized. In particular, he pointed out that Lee and the opposition party are at odds with the Yoon administration over soaring prices, improving relations with Korea’s colonial Japan, and discharging contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.Meanwhile, conservative President Yoon tried to reverse Moon Jae In’s North Korea policy, which emphasized negotiations and reconciliation with North Korea after taking office, but he added that many polls showed low approval ratings, with a majority of respondents opposed to Yoon’s presidency. It is analyzed that President Yoon has intensified his attacks on progressive political opponents in recent weeks. President Yoon also mentioned “anti-state forces,” saying that some of the political opponents colluded with North Korea to spread fake news.Opposition parties, on the other hand, say that President Yoon deepens political polarization.Lee’s hunger strike seems to be due to the Yoon Suk Yeoln government’s economic situation, suppression of freedom of speech, and failure to respond to the Fukushima nuclear power plant’s discharge of contaminated water.
KS CHOI
US ASIA JOURNAL
