DPK bloc calls for dropping Lee charges

Feb 13, 2026, 07:58 am

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Rep. Park Sung-joon of the Democratic Party of Korea, who serves as standing chair, speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly on Feb. 12 marking the launch of a lawmakers’ group calling for the cancellation of indictments against President Lee Jae-myung and a parliamentary probe. / Yonhap

A group of 87 lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea officially launched a caucus on Feb. 12 calling for the cancellation of indictments against President Lee Jae-myung and a parliamentary investigation into past prosecutions, marking the largest such gathering within the National Assembly.

The group, titled the “Lawmakers’ Meeting for the Cancellation of Indictments Against President Lee Jae-myung and a National Assembly Investigation,” argues that previous prosecutions of Lee were politically motivated and manipulated.

Rep. Park Sung-joon, the group’s standing chair, said at a press conference that the previous administration under former President Yoon Suk Yeol “used the prosecution as a tool to eliminate political opponents through excessive indictments and fabricated investigations.”

He said the group’s primary goal is to uncover what it describes as coercion and pressure by “political prosecutors” through a parliamentary probe.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers labeled eight cases — including the Daejang-dong development scandal and the alleged Ssangbangwool remittance to North Korea — as “fabricated indictments.” They stressed that it is abnormal for trials to continue even after Lee’s election as president.

Rep. Lee Geon-tae, who serves as secretary of the group, argued that maintaining indictments against a sitting president contradicts the Constitution’s provision granting criminal immunity during tenure. Citing a U.S. Department of Justice interpretation and the case in which charges against Donald Trump were dropped after his election, Lee said, “It does not conform to the principle of separation of powers for the judiciary to hold back a head of state elected by the people.”

He added that since the Constitutional Court has interpreted prosecution to include both indictment and maintenance of charges, withdrawing ongoing prosecutions against a sitting president would align with the spirit of the Constitution.

In political circles, the participation of prominent pro-Lee figures — including Reps. Park Chan-dae, Cho Jung-sik and Moon Jin-seok — has sparked speculation that the move could also be aimed at consolidating influence within the party. Observers note that the inclusion of Supreme Council members such as Rep. Lee Eon-ju and Rep. Hwang Myung-sun, who have recently voiced differing views on party management, may affect internal party dynamics.

However, Park dismissed interpretations that the group is faction-driven, saying in a radio interview that it would be inappropriate to view a gathering with clear objectives and justification through the lens of factional interests.

The group plans to hold an official launch ceremony and resolution rally at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on Feb. 23 and unveil its activity roadmap.

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