First-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea urged the People Power Party to cooperate with a parliamentary investigation to cancel the prosecution of President Lee Jae-myung. On the recent issue of "canceling the president's prosecution," first-term Democratic Party lawmakers appear to be taking the lead. Lee is also seen as having expanded his influence by sharing views on internal party issues with first-term lawmakers centered on the pro-Lee faction.
The first-term lawmakers' group in the Democratic Party, "The Mincho," held a press conference at the National Assembly communication center on the morning of the 16th, saying, "The People Power Party should immediately cooperate with a parliamentary investigation to uncover the alleged fabricated indictment by political prosecutors under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration," and added, "Above all, a prompt formation of a special committee for the parliamentary investigation is necessary." The subjects of the parliamentary probe included the Daejang-dong development favoritism case and the SSANGBANGWOOL remittances to North Korea case, which are connected to the president.
Lee Jae-kang, a Democratic Party lawmaker who leads The Mincho, said, "If the People Power Party is willing to sever ties with Yoon Suk-yeol, it should cast off the ploy to exploit conspiracy theories and actively cooperate in revealing the truth behind the fabricated indictment carried out by mobilizing political prosecutors," adding, "We will take the lead in restoring normalcy through thorough fact-finding via a parliamentary investigation and institutional reforms."
First-term lawmakers have become increasingly active over the recent issue of "canceling the president's prosecution." Most first-term Democratic Party lawmakers entered the National Assembly when Lee was party leader. They number 68 out of the party's 162 lawmakers (42%), nearly half. The Mincho also issued statements opposing Party Leader Jung Chung-rae's proposal to merge with the Rebuilding Korea Party and the push for a one-person, one-vote system.
First-term Democratic Party lawmakers also took a hard line on the "deal between prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority and canceling the prosecution" raised on YouTuber Kim Ou-joon's channel. As even the word "impeachment" was mentioned amid the cancellation-of-prosecution deal claim, they said party-level action against Kim was necessary. In particular, first-term lawmakers Kim Seong-hoe and Baek Seung-ah were said to have strongly pressed the case at a general assembly of lawmakers.
Lee is also building momentum by having dinners with first-term lawmakers. Over two days on the 15th and 16th, Lee had dinners with 34 first-term lawmakers. He will dine with the remaining first-term lawmakers on the 16th. At the meeting, Lee reportedly made remarks seeking help from first-term lawmakers while defending the government's plan to overhaul the prosecution, such as "Not all prosecutors are bad" and "Those who push reforms must exercise restraint."
One first-term Democratic Party lawmaker said, "There were many lawmakers at the dinner, but it felt like the president was trying to broaden his rapport with first-term lawmakers by giving everyone a chance to speak," adding, "With the president's approval ratings high, first-term lawmakers are considering how they can better fulfill their role as the ruling party."