161 votes against… First rejection in the 21st National Assembly
Han Dong-hoon “I have a recording file” speech
Concerns about criticism of the Democratic Party’s ‘covering my family’
The motion for arrest of Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Woong-rae (pictured), accused of bribery, was rejected at a plenary session of the National Assembly on the 28th. It is analyzed that the majority of the 169 Democratic Party lawmakers voted against it in an anonymous free vote.
The National Assembly held a plenary session that day and rejected the motion for the arrest of Rep. Roh with 101 votes in favor, 161 votes against, and 9 abstentions among 271 present. It is the first time that a motion to arrest a member of the National Assembly has been rejected in the 21st National Assembly.
Speaker Kim Jin-pyo announces voting results National Assembly Speaker Jin-pyo Kim announces the results of the motion for arrest of Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Woong-rae at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 28th. Reporter Kim Chang-gil
Justice Minister Han Dong-hun, who submitted the motion for the arrest to the National Assembly, said in a speech at the main meeting room, “There is a recorded file that records the scene where Rep. Roh received the money after receiving a request.” Minister Han said, “After exchanging specific requests, while receiving the money, he said, ‘You gave it to me last time, why don’t you give it to me again? Rep. Roh, who participated in the opposition debate, insisted on the rejection, saying, “It is a fabrication of facts,” and “If this is intertwined, who will survive?”
The power of the people and the Democratic Party did not set the pros and cons of the motion for arrest as a party argument, but submitted it to a free vote. It is estimated that many members of the Democratic Party, the majority of 169 seats, voted against, and many of the members of the People’s Power voted in favor. The Justice Party agreed with the party argument, saying, “The National Assembly should not act as a bulletproof shield for those suspected of corruption and corruption.”
It is interpreted that the reason why the Democratic Party lawmakers agreed to the rejection is that they partially accepted Rep. Roh’s argument that the submission of the motion for arrest was ‘suppression of the opposition’. Even though Rep. Roh appeared before the prosecution, there were many opinions within the party that sent the consent to arrest as an excessive political offensive by the prosecution. In particular, it is analyzed that many of the pro-Lee Jae-myung lawmakers opposed the passage of the motion to arrest Roh in order to protect Lee Jae-myung. A party official said, “If we agree to the motion for the arrest of Congressman Roh and oppose the motion for the arrest of Representative Lee, who may exist, the controversy within the party will not grow.”
Democratic Party lawmakers also have a strong sense of resistance to the prosecution’s investigation focused on opposition figures. Park Chan-dae, the top member of the committee, said at the on-site supreme committee meeting held in Gwangju that day, “The investigation of opposition party officials is at the KTX level, but the investigation of Deutsche Motors’ stock price manipulation Kim Kun-hee (Mrs.) is standing still like a rusty train.”
The power of the people “Rehearsing the denial of Lee Jae-myeong?”
There are also concerns within the Democratic Party that the rejection of the motion for arrest is not in line with the public. One first-time lawmaker worried, “To the public, it could be seen as taking care of my family.”
In a commentary, Park Jeong-ha, chief spokesman for People’s Power, criticized, “The Democratic Party has layer upon layers of protection for Rep. Roh behind the privilege of non-arrest,” and criticized that “it seems that they even practiced a denial for the day that may come to Lee.” Kim Hee-seo, chief spokesperson for the Justice Party, said, “The stigma of the BTS party cannot be avoided.”
Rep. Roh issued a statement and asked Minister Han’s remarks at the plenary session, “Please explain in detail to the public how the Minister of Justice, who is not the prosecutor in charge, knows the contents of the transcript, which the parties have not seen or heard.” Minister Han met with reporters and said, “The public will remember today’s decision for a long time,” regarding the result of the motion to reject the arrest motion. The Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement and said, “It is regrettable that the motion for arrest was rejected by the National Assembly despite the clear reason for accepting money and valuables using the position of a member of the National Assembly.”
Previously, the 21st National Assembly passed all three motions for the arrest of Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Jeong-soon in October 2020, independent lawmaker Lee Sang-min in April 2021, and People’s Strength lawmaker Jeong Chan-min in September 2021.