Ahead of possible arrest, S.Korean opposition leader slams Yoon's government as 'prosecutor dictatorship'

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – South Korea’s main opposition leader on Friday called for “protection of democracy” against what he referred to as “prosecutor dictatorship.”

“The livelihoods of the people and democracy should be guarded by stopping the recklessness and the regression of dictatorial administration by the prosecution,” Lee Jae-myung said, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News.

The Democratic Party (DP) chairman’s statement has come after the country’s parliament on Thursday passed a motion to arrest Lee Jae-myung on alleged corruption charges.

Out of the total votes cast, 149 were in favor of the motion, 136 opposed it, while there were six abstentions and four invalid votes.

The successful passage of the motion in parliament shocked the opposition, which holds a majority in the National Assembly with 168 out of 298 lawmakers.

The DP says Lee would not step down.

On Monday, prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Lee from a local court, shortly after he was taken to a hospital with deteriorating health as he is on a hunger strike protesting the Yoon Suk-yeol government.

The hearing on the possible arrest of Lee will be held on Tuesday.