Parliament rejects proposal to approve opposition lawmakers ' arrest SEOUL , May 21 ( Yonhap ) -- The National Assembly on Monday rejected the prosecution ' s request for consent to arrest two opposition lawmakers , sparking criticism of a " bulletproof " parliament shielding fellow lawmakers accused of wrongdoing . In a plenary session , the Assembly voted down the government ' s proposal to permit the arrest of Hong Moon - jong , a fourth - term lawmaker , and Yeom Dong - yeol , a second - term politician , both from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party . South Korean lawmakers cannot be arrested or detained while the parliament is in session without parliamentary consent unless they are caught red - handed . Hong is suspected of receiving illegal funds via a private school foundation while Yeom is allegedly involved in a hiring scandal at Kangwon Land Co . , a state - run casino operator . The rejection is likely to invite criticism about lawmakers ' lenient attitude toward their colleagues at a time when parliament just passed bills on an extra budget and a special counsel probe into an online opinion rigging scandal after a months - long impasse . " I apologized to the public over parliament ' s rejection , " Hong Young - pyo , the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party ( DP ) , told a briefing . " The general public has long called for the abolition of lawmakers ' privilege of enjoying immunity from arrest . .. As the floor leader of the DP , I felt responsibility for the fact that some party members cast no votes over the proposal . " sooyeon @ yna . co . kr ( END )