The ruling People Power Party(PPP) will require seekers of the party’s nomination in next year's general elections to relinquish the immunity from arrest granted to lawmakers.

PPP Rep. Bae June-young, who heads strategy and planning under the secretary general, said on Wednesday that the decision was reached during a meeting of the party's election planning team.

This is likely a proactive move to the public pressure mounting on the main opposition Democratic Party for abusing the immunity to protect its chief, Lee Jae-myung, who is embroiled in a number of corruption scandals under investigation by the prosecution.

The PPP’s innovation committee had previously recommended a stipulation in the party’s constitution and regulations requiring lawmakers to surrender their immunity.

Bae said the nomination committee, likely to be composed of around ten people with two-thirds from outside the party, is set to launch between mid-December and the end of the month.