Rep. Choo Kyung-ho of the People Power Party attends a general meeting of lawmakers at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on November 4, listening to the remarks of interim leader Jang Dong-hyuk. Yonhap News.

A request for consent to arrest (arrest consent bill) has been submitted to the National Assembly for former People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, who is accused of obstructing the lifting of martial law during the December 3 emergency martial law incident.

The Ministry of Justice announced on the 5th that the arrest consent bill for former floor leader Choo had been submitted to the National Assembly after presidential approval.

Previously, the special prosecutor team investigating the rebellion, led by Jo Eun-seok, had requested an arrest warrant for former floor leader Choo, charging him with engaging in important duties related to rebellion.

The warrant stated that Choo is accused of obstructing other lawmakers from participating in the vote to lift martial law by changing the location of the People Power Party's general meeting of lawmakers multiple times at the request of then-President Yoon Suk-yeol's side during the martial law period.

As a current member of the National Assembly, former floor leader Choo's arrest consent bill must be passed by the National Assembly plenary session for a pre-arrest investigation (arrest warrant examination) to be held by the court. Once the court sends the arrest consent bill (request for consent to arrest) to the special prosecutor team, it is submitted to the National Assembly through the Ministry of Justice and put to a vote.

The Speaker of the National Assembly must report the request at the first plenary session convened after receiving it and hold a plenary session to vote on it within 24 to 72 hours. If the deadline is missed, it will be put to a vote at the first subsequent plenary session.

The arrest consent bill passes if a majority of the total number of lawmakers are present and a majority of those present vote in favor. If it passes, a date for the arrest warrant examination will be set. If it is rejected, the court will dismiss the arrest warrant without an examination.

Former floor leader Choo had previously expressed his intention to waive his parliamentary immunity. However, it is observed that the procedures stipulated by law, such as the vote, will proceed regardless of this.

Yonhap News