Parliament fails to pass arrest motions for two ex-DP lawmakers

Rep. Youn Kwan-suk, right, bows to Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung as he passes in the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul on Monday. [YONHAP]

The National Assembly on Monday failed to pass motions consenting to the arrests of Reps. Lee Sung-man and and Youn Kwan-suk over their alleged involvement in a cash-for-votes scandal that is the latest to rock the liberal Democratic Party (DP).

The motion on Youn was voted down 139-145 with nine abstentions, while the motion on Lee was rejected 132-155 with six abstentions.

By law, a sitting lawmaker can only be arrested while the National Assembly is in session if a majority of lawmakers present consent.

The two independent lawmakers left the DP last month after they were accused of helping distribute cash-stuffed envelopes to help shore up support for former chairman Song Young-gil’s eventually successful party leadership bid ahead of the DP national convention in May 2021.

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon called on the legislature to approve the pair's arrest during his address to lawmakers earlier on Monday, citing evidence, including recordings of the lawmakers' conversations, that he argued made it clear they were involved in the cash-for-votes scheme to get Song elected.

Lawmakers are deprived of their seats if they are sentenced to prison or fined more than 1 million won for violating election laws or campaign funding regulations.

The arrest of a sitting lawmaker has required parliamentary consent for 75 years.

A total of 68 motions for the arrest of a sitting lawmaker have been considered by the National Assembly since 1948, when Korea’s first constitution was promulgated.

Only 16 have been approved by the legislature, with 19 being rejected and 33 withdrawn or expired.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]