National Assembly Station sealed off as DP supporters attempt to enter Assembly

Politics

Published: 21 Sep. 2023, 18:57 Updated: 22 Sep. 2023, 09:37

National Assembly Station sealed off as DP supporters attempt to enter Assembly

Police officers guard the main entrance of the National Assembly in Yeouido on Thursday. Supporters of the Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung tried to enter the Assembly ground to protest the National Assembly's vote on Thursday on whether to let the court decide on an arrest warrant for Lee. [YONHAP]

The entrance of the National Assembly Station on Seoul Subway Line 9 was sealed off by the police as supporters of the Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung attempted to enter the Assembly building in protest of Thursday's vote, which cleared the path for an arrest warrant for Lee.

Protesters attempted to enter the Assembly grounds through the subway station upon learning that legislators passed the motion for a possible arrest warrant for Lee, as the Assembly's main entrance was closed.

The police had stationed 3,700 officers from 63 units.

During Thursday's vote, out of the 295 lawmakers who cast their ballot on the arrest motion, 149 voted in favor, while 136 voted against it.

The motion needed at least 148 votes to pass.

Supporters of the Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who gathered in a protest to the National Assembly's vote on Thursday, are pictured after the motion for a possible arrest warrant for Lee passed. One man is seen crying. The court will likely review whether to issue an arrest warrant for Lee next week. [NEWS1]

The motion needed at least 148 votes to pass.
Lee has been hospitalized since Monday due to health deterioration resulting from a hunger strike that he started 22 days ago.

The prosecution requested an arrest warrant on the same day.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]