South Korean lawmakers vote to lift hunger striking opposition leader’s immunity to arrest

By KIM TONG-HYUNG
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In a surprise outcome, South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament has voted to pass a motion submitted by the government that allows the potential arrest of the country’s leading opposition figure, Lee Jae-myung, who faces a widening investigation over corruption allegations. Lawmakers voted in favor of lifting Lee’s immunity to arrest, which allows a Seoul court to hold a hearing on a request from prosecutors for an arrest warrant. It was not immediately clear when the hearing would take place or whether the court is likely to grant an arrest warrant after Lee was hospitalized Monday during a weekslong hunger strike in protest of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol’s policies.