Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party, holds a 2023 New Year press conference at Sarangjae of the National Assembly on the 12th. Senior Reporter Minkyu Park
On the 12th, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myeong criticized the Yoon Seok-yeol government, saying, “It has deceived the people with a double play that destroys the opposition party while advocating cooperation in words.” Targeting the prosecution who is investigating him, he said, “Abusing the right to investigate and prosecute while helping unreasonable power.”
Representative Lee held a New Year’s press conference at the National Assembly that day and said, “I hope the government will stop trying to obliterate the opposition party.” It is the first time CEO Lee held an official press conference after taking office after a conference calling for the ‘Daejang-dong Special Inspection System Introduction Bill’ in October of last year.
In the Q&A session with reporters after the press conference, questions related to Lee’s ‘judicial risk’ were focused. When asked about his thoughts on appearing at the prosecution on the 10th in the Seongnam FC suspicion case, CEO Lee said, “As a citizen, I confidently responded to the prosecution’s request for summons.” And it is not right.” Representative Lee asked reporters on this day, “If possible, I ask that he say that he is a ‘prosecution risk’ rather than a ‘judicial risk’.”
When asked if he could give up the privilege of non-arrest by lawmakers, Lee said, “If the police exercise their authority legally, they will of course accept it. He said, “Please consider that now the prosecution has become a servant of power, helping unjust power while abusing the right to investigate and prosecute.” If the prosecution requests an arrest warrant during the session of the National Assembly and the motion for arrest is submitted to the National Assembly, it is presumed that he will not voluntarily respond to the warrant review.
Regarding the connection between the Democratic Party’s promotion of the ‘Mrs. Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecution Bill’ and his own judicial risk, Lee said, “It is unfair to link the two issues.” Representative Lee said, “The prosecution’s political attack on me is forcibly made up of facts that do not exist,” and said, “Isn’t too much clear evidence revealed regarding Ms. Regarding the party’s disclosure of the list of prosecutors who investigated him, he asked back, “Judges also disclose their names in their rulings, but why can’t only prosecutors disclose their names?”
At a press conference earlier, Lee said, “Constitutional amendments and political reforms that respect the will of the people are urgent.” Representative Lee said that he would hold a referendum for constitutional amendment at the same time in the general election next year. He announced that he would submit a constitutional amendment at the Democratic Party level with the goal of coming March. Regarding the introduction of the medium-sized constituency system proposed by President Yoon, “I understand that it means to secure equality of votes and to alleviate regionalism, and I completely agree with that point, but I am skeptical that medium-sized constituencies are the only option.” suggested as an alternative.
Representative Lee also said, “I propose three solutions to overcome the public livelihood crisis,” and proposed an emergency public livelihood project worth a total of 30 trillion won, including interest support for monthly rent deposits, introduction of an interest reduction program for the common people, and an increase in the local currency budget. It urged President Yoon to drastically overhaul the cabinet, including the economic line, and also proposed the formation of a “pan-national emergency economic meeting” in which the National Assembly, government, businesses, and labor world participated. Representative Lee said, “I have already proposed several meetings with the president. That proposal is still valid,” he repeatedly requested for a summit meeting with President Yoon.
Representative Lee emphasized constitutional amendment and improvement of people’s livelihood at the press conference, but in the Q&A, it was evaluated within the party that it was a conference that highlighted Lee’s response to judicial risks as a result of focusing on the prosecution’s investigation and criticism of the government. A member of the metropolitan area said, “It may seem contradictory to the public that it is unfair to tie up with CEO Lee himself while promoting the special prosecution of Mrs. Kim Kun-hee in the party.” As a result, the party’s approval rating is declining,” he said. Another member of the metropolitan area said, “It reminds me of the time when former President Park Geun-hye pulled out a constitutional amendment card right after the contents of (Choi Soon-sil’s) ‘tablet PC’ were reported.”
On this day, the results of a poll showed that the Democratic Party’s approval rating has been declining for four weeks in a row. As a result of the nationwide survey (NBS) conducted by Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research on 1008 voters from the 9th to the 11th, the Democratic Party’s approval rating was 27%, an 8 percentage point gap with the people’s strength. happened with It is analyzed that Lee’s judicial risk had an effect on the decline in the party’s approval rating.
The President’s Office expressed its principled position on this representative’s proposal. An official from the presidential office met with reporters at the Yongsan presidential office that day and said, “The talks are always open,” but “I think we will make a decision in consideration of various conditions, including the situation in the National Assembly.” Regarding the composition of the Pan-National Emergency Economic Council, he said, “We will judge the situation of the National Assembly and various other conditions.” Regarding constitutional amendment, he replied, “It is a matter to be discussed in the National Assembly.”
