South Koreans woke Friday to dramatic political circumstances: The firebrand leader of the country’s leftist opposition party, already hospitalized in a dramatic protest hunger strike against government policies, could soon be behind bars.
After a shock National Assembly vote opened up that possibility late Thursday, the floor leader and general secretary of the leftist Democratic Party of Korea offered to step down. But party leader Lee Jae-myung — characteristically — came out swinging.
For Mr. Lee, the tally should have been risk-free: The Democratic Party, known as the DPK, holds a comfortable majority of 168 seats in the unicameral, 299-seat National Assembly. President Yoon’s conservative People Power Party occupies just 111 seats. In retrospect, the government’s motion looks like a bank shot designed to spark confusion and division across the political aisle.
Though he only lost last year’s presidential election to Mr. Yoon by a whisker – 0.7% - it seems a good-sized chunk of DPK lawmakers considered Mr. Lee too toxic to retain party leadership. A Thursday Gallup poll found that 46% of Koreans think his arrest would be just, compared to 37% who opposed the move.
Additionally, he is suspected of sending $8 million secretly to North Korea to enable cross-border initiatives in 2019. The transfer, according to some reports, was conducted by Ssangbangwool Group, an underwear company allegedly controlled by South Korean mobsters.“Positioning yourself as someone who can deal with North Korea is an actual political strategy” for ambitious South Korean politicians, Mr. Breen said.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Enovix to buy South Korean battery maker in cash and stock dealShares of Enovix Corp. rose more than 1% in the extended session Wednesday after the battery maker said it has agreed to buy privately held Korean battery...
Weiterlesen »
South Korean leader warns Russia against weapons collaboration with the NorthSouth Korea’s president sounded a warning to fellow world leaders about the recent communication and possible cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Weiterlesen »
South Korean leader warns Russia against weapons collaboration with the NorthSouth Korea’s president sounded a warning to fellow world leaders about the recent communication and possible cooperation between North Korea and Russia
Weiterlesen »
South Korean leader warns Russia against weapons collaboration with the NorthSouth Korea’s president sounded a warning to fellow world leaders about the recent communication and possible cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Weiterlesen »
South Korean leader warns Russia against weapons collaboration with the NorthSouth Korea’s president sounded a warning to fellow world leaders about the recent communication and possible cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Weiterlesen »
South Korean president warns of Russia-North Korea nuclear collaborationSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a sharp warning Wednesday about growing Russia-North Korea strategic ties, telling the U.N. General Assembly that Seoul and its allies “will not stand idly by” if Moscow is helping Pyongyang advance its nuclear weapons program.
Weiterlesen »