A parliamentary motion providing for the arrest of sitting lawmaker Lee Seok Ki of the Unified Progressive Party is expected to be dealt with in a general session of the National Assembly this week.
The motion, which was issued by prosecutors in Suwon on August 30th, is currently with the office of Prime Minister Jung Hong Won. Once the motion has received the approval of Prime Minister Jung and President Park Geun Hye it can be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.
A motion must be reported to the National Assembly during the first regular session after it is submitted, and voted upon within 72 hours. A majority of those lawmakers present at the time of the vote must vote in favor for it to pass.
The motion is not expected to meet with significant opposition in the National Assembly. On August 31st, ruling party lawmaker Choi Kyung Hwan proposed to the opposition Democratic Party that “when the arrest motion for lawmaker Lee Seok Ki is passed over let’s open a regular session even if that is all we deal with.” The Democratic Party has also reacted positively to the prospect of legitimizing Lee’s arrest.
