Stop the irrational attacks on each other

During the long Chuseok holidays, attention has shifted to what will happen next after the court’s rejection of the prosecution’s request for an arrest warrant for Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung. Many hoped for the majority party and the governing People Power Party (PPP) to focus on taking care of people’s tough livelihood. But the two rivaling parties were only bent on hurling irrational attacks at one another.

After the rejection of the arrest warrant, the DP ferociously attacked the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the prosecution just as if the court’s decision were the same as a ruling proving his innocence. The DP went so far as to demand an apology from President Yoon and the resignation of Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, followed by Lee’s abrupt proposal for a meeting with the president. But the judge raised his reasonable doubts about Lee’s alleged involvement in the suspicious redevelopment project and the remittance of $8 million to North Korea in return for favors.

Put simply, the DP head was not found innocent but barely avoided an arrest for a further investigation by the prosecution. Nevertheless, the DP attacked the prosecution for “launching a political investigation” of the opposition leader. The DP leader has his work cut out for him. It is to resolve the deepening internal division of his party. Lee must first put the brakes on his fanatical supporters who even demand the DP leadership sort out — and punish — those lawmakers who voted for Lee’s arrest in the National Assembly. The new leadership of the party dominated by pro-Lee lawmakers should also be revamped to reflect diversity, a core value of democracy.

DP floor leader Park Kwang-on should not have resigned over a crisis caused by Lee’s own judicial risks. If Lee continues to lead the party with lawmakers close to him, he will confront strong resistance from DP members and even the general public. The party must return to its role as the majority party quickly.

The PPP must change, too. It vehemently attacked the judge for making “a decision bordering on sheer sophistry.” But given its status as the governing party, it must respect the court’s decision even if it is not satisfactory. If the party continues to make statements suggestive of its defiance of the judiciary’s decision, it is no different from the DP.

The PPP must deeply reflect on whether it over-relied on the prosecution’s investigation of the DP leader without caring for people’s livelihood. The next parliamentary elections are less than seven months away.