Agree to vote on fate of independent, ruling party lawmakers Wednesday


Ruling and opposition parties agreed Monday to deal with motions on the arrest of two lawmakers, reflecting their pledge to give up lawmakers’ on Wednesday immunity from detention.

The vice floor leaders of the Saenuri Party and the Democratic United Party agreed that the prosecution’s requests for the arrests of independent Rep. Park Joo-sun, formerly affiliated with the opposition party, and the ruling party’s Rep. Chung Doo-un will be put to vote at the upcoming plenary session.

According to the National Assembly Act, the arrest of an incumbent lawmaker during session requires approval of a majority of lawmakers. 
The prosecution submitted its request to the parliament last week, asking permission to detain Rep. Park. He was handed down a two-year jail term by a lower court last month for illicit campaigning before the April general elections.

Prosecutors also asked for the arrest of Rep. Chung on charges of acting as an accomplice to Lee Sang-deuk, former lawmaker and older brother to President Lee Myung-bak, in a bribery case in 2007.

Chung was not only present at the scene when Lee received 300 million won ($262,651) from a savings banks chief but also loaded the bag of money into his car, according to prosecution officials.

The arrest motions are expected to pass the parliament as the Saenuri Party promised to fully cooperate with the prosecution’s request. It vowed to try to resolve all scandals before the December presidential election.

“It is only sensible for the National Assembly to approve (the arrest request for Rep. Chung),” said floor leader Rep. Lee Hahn-koo in the party’s Supreme Council meeting on Monday.

“The Saenuri Party has already pledged to give up the lawmakers’ immunity from arrest and shall act upon the policy.”

The DUP has yet to unveil its position as the prosecution also accused its floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won of taking kickbacks from the savings bank chief.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)