Lee Keon-tae to not debate reinvestigation rights; Han Dong-hoon: 'If you're ashamed, it's over'

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Keon-tae has withdrawn from a planned public debate with independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon concerning the abolition of prosecutorial reinvestigation rights. Lee announced his decision on Facebook, stating he would respect the "many opinions and advice" from party members.

The debate, initially agreed upon for July 22 on JTBC, was set to address the contentious issue of prosecutorial powers. Lee had accepted Han's challenge, viewing Han as a key figure responsible for politically motivated prosecutions alongside President Yoon Suk-yeol. Lee expressed a desire to hold Han accountable.

However, Lee's decision to back out followed internal opposition from within the Democratic Party. Some members argued that participating in the debate would offer no practical benefit and might only elevate Han's profile. Lee stated his primary motivation for entering politics was to support President Lee Jae-myung and his administration, and he felt it was inappropriate to disregard the concerns of his supporters.

In response, Han Dong-hoon vehemently criticized Lee's withdrawal, labeling it as "running away" and questioning the Democratic Party's standing as a "public party." Han suggested that Lee's decision was prompted by pressure from party members who feared he would be outmatched in the debate. He urged JTBC to proceed with the debate, proposing that an anchor or journalist could represent the Democratic Party's stance on the issue, allowing him to explain his position to the public.