Rival parties to vote on arrest motion of opposition leader Lee on Feb. 27

Rival parties have agreed to hold a plenary session of the National Assembly on Feb. 27 to vote on the arrest motion of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, officials said Saturday. Yonhap

The rival parties have agreed to hold a plenary session of the National Assembly, Feb. 27, to vote on a motion regarding the arrest of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, officials said Saturday.

Earlier this week, prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Lee, the head of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), over corruption and bribery allegations in a development project.

Sitting lawmakers, however, are immune from the Assembly is in session ― the prosecution must obtain its consent to detain a representative.

Rep. Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, and his DPK counterpart, Rep. Park Hong-keun, agreed on the schedule for the full-floor session Friday, according to officials from both parties. The motion is expected to be reported to the Assembly next Friday.

The process for the consent vote began the previous day after the Seoul Central District Court sent a request for consent to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office.

The document will be forwarded to the Supreme Prosecutors Office and to the justice ministry, which will then submit the motion to the National Assembly after approval by the president. (Yonhap)