Over the issue of abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Geon-tae (first-term, Bucheon-byeong, Gyeonggi), who had agreed to hold a public debate with independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon (first-term, Buk-gap, Busan), reversed course and opted out.
According to the political community on the 18th, Lee wrote on social media (SNS) that day, saying, "I take to heart the many opinions and advice from fellow party members," and, "I will not proceed with this debate."
Earlier on the 16th, when Han, who argues for retaining the supplementary investigation authority, proposed a public debate to the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee accepted, saying, "Do it with me." Lee had taken a position for complete abolition.
Lee wrote, "The reason I agreed to the debate is that Han Dong-hoon, together with Yoon Suk-yeol, was responsible for leading fabricated indictments by fronting political prosecutors," adding, "I wanted to hold him clearly accountable."
Opposition from party members led Lee to change course. After Lee said he would hold a public debate with Han, objections arose that there would be "no practical benefit from the debate," and that it would "only boost Han's profile."
Han immediately criticized on his SNS, saying, "Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Geon-tae ran away ahead of the debate." He also said, "Is the Democratic Party of Korea really a public party? For a public party, it's over if you're ashamed. The Democratic Party of Korea is finished."
Han also noted, "The ban on supplementary investigations by the Lee Jae-myung Democratic Party administration, which makes victims cry and sides with murderers like Jang Yoon-gi, is being pushed by people who lack such courage, competence and courtesy."
Meanwhile, the two sides had even reached a tentative agreement to debate on JTBC at 5 p.m. on the 22nd, but the debate was scrapped after Lee announced his intention to halt it that day.