Arrest warrant sought for DP lawmaker Noh Woong-rae

Democratic Party Rep. Noh Woong-rae walks out of the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Monday. [YONHAP]

Prosecutors requested an arrest warrant Monday for Democratic Party (DP) Rep. Noh Woong-rae over allegations of having taken some 60 million won ($45,785) in illegal funds from a businessman around the time of the 2020 parliamentary elections.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's anticorruption investigation division said that Noh, a four-term lawmaker representing Seoul's Mapo-A constituency, is suspected of having taken bribes and violating the Political Funds Act.

Noh allegedly received the funds on five occasions from February to December 2020 from a businessman surnamed Park in return for various favors for his solar panel business.

Prosecutors suspect that the money went to Noh's campaign for his parliamentary seat in the legislative elections in April 2020 and his bid to serve on the party's supreme council in August 2020.

On Nov. 16, prosecutors searched Noh's home and National Assembly office to seize evidence.

During the raid of his residence, prosecutors discovered around 300 million won in cash in his closet, which they suspected could include some of the funds he received from Park.

Noh is accused of having first received 20 million won last February at a restaurant near the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, in return for granting favors for Park's solar panel business. He allegedly received bribes again in March, July, November and December.

Park claimed that he gave 40 million won to the lawmaker for his election campaign and another 20 million won for recommendations for senior posts in a regional tax office and a public utility firm.

Park's wife, a university professor, was also questioned by prosecutors over allegations that she delivered some of the funds directly from Park to Noh.

Noh's wife and former aides to the lawmaker were called in for questioning.

On Dec. 6, Noh was grilled by prosecution for 13 hours.

Noh denied all the allegations.

He claimed the 300 million won found in his home is not suspicious and came from donations and condolence money from his father's funeral.

"I pledge my political career on proving my innocence," Noh said in a press briefing at the National Assembly on Dec. 6.

Park is also allegedly the individual who provided 940 million won in bribes to Lee Jung-geun, a former deputy secretary general of the DP who was indicted in October for allegedly taking illegal funds in return for business favors from 2019 to 2021.

Lee is accused of receiving bribes from Park between December 2019 and January 2021 in return for lobbying with officials in the government and public institutions.

Lee served on former President Moon Jae-in's election campaign when he ran for president in 2017 and on DP Chairman Lee Jae-myung's losing campaign for the March 9 presidential election.

Noh is a journalist-turned-politician and previously worked as a newsroom anchor for public broadcaster MBC.

"This investigation is neither legal nor fair," Noh's legal representative told reporters Monday, claiming that the prosecution requested a warrant "even in a situation where there is no fear of destroying evidence or fleeing."

This is the first time that the prosecution has requested an arrest warrant for an incumbent lawmaker in the National Assembly since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration began in May.

It is the fourth time an arrest warrant has been requested during the current 21st National Assembly, which convened in 2020.

Incumbent lawmakers have immunity from being arrested or detained while the National Assembly is in session without parliamentary consent. A court can approve an arrest only with National Assembly approval.

After a motion to allow the prosecution to arrest a lawmaker is reported at a plenary session, it must be put to a vote within 72 hours by the National Assembly speaker from the following day. There needs to be a quorum of half of the sitting members, and the motion will pass if half of these attendees are in favor of it.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]