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<strong>South Korean President </strong>Yoon Suk Yeol<strong> approves request for parliamentary consent to opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung’s arrest</strong>

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BNN Correspondents
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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's office said, Yoon has signed off on the request for parliamentary consent to opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung’s arrest.

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The endorsement by the president is the procedural step, which comes before the justice ministry submits the request for consent to the National Assembly. By the procedure of law, prosecutors will need parliamentary consent to arrest a lawmaker, while the assembly is in session.

Lee, who is the chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), faces charges of corruption and bribery in connection with development projects and donations to a municipal football club. These alleged irregularities dates back to his time as mayor of Seongnam, south of Seoul, from 2010-2018.

On Thursday, the prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Lee. This is the first time in South Korea that the prosecution has sought an arrest warrant for the head of the nation’s largest opposition party.

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The presidential office said, “The motion for consent of Chairman Lee Jae-Myung’s arrest was received yesterday and the president's approval was given. It is set to be sent to the National Assembly”.

As and when, it is sent to the National Assembly. Then, the speaker is supposed to report it during the first plenary meeting to be held hereafter and put it to a vote within the following 72 hours, but after the elapse of 24 hours.

The motion is scheduled to be reported to the plenary parliamentary meeting on Friday. It will be put to a vote on next Monday.

The DP has majority in the National Assembly. Hence, it is expected to refuse for consent to Lee’s arrest.

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