[Comprehensive] On the 'Impeachment of Yoon Seok-yeol'... Opposition Party Criticizes as "Final Desperation of Pro-Moon Forces," "People Recklessly Going All Out"

Joo Ho-young "Ruling Party Lost Reason Over Yoon's Return"
Kim Ki-hyun "Making and Amending Laws Because of a Specific Person"

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 16th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Amid calls for the impeachment of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol from some factions within the ruling party, opposition parties including the People Power Party have collectively criticized the move, warning that "if impeachment is forcibly pursued, it will face the wrath of the public."

On the 27th, Kim Du-kwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on his Facebook, "Prosecutor General Yoon abused prosecutorial investigative powers to infringe upon the president's personnel authority, effectively directed surveillance on judges to attack the administration, and refused and obstructed inspections of himself and his close aides, thereby rejecting control according to the national power order."

He added, "There is absolutely no reason for the Democratic Party to hesitate in impeaching Prosecutor General Yoon, who has infringed upon the nation's greatest legal interests," emphasizing, "Removing obstacles to institutional reform is precisely the impeachment of Prosecutor General Yoon."

Since the court's decision on the night of the 24th to allow Prosecutor General Yoon's return to duty (approval of the suspension of disciplinary action execution), Kim has been advocating for Yoon's impeachment, posting under the title "I, Kim Du-kwan, will take the lead in impeaching Yoon Seok-yeol" starting from the 25th.

The Open Democratic Party also supports the impeachment of Prosecutor General Yoon. Kim Seong-hoe, spokesperson for the Open Democratic Party, said in a statement, "Even though the Minister of Justice has expressed his intention to resign and the president has apologized, the offender calmly returning to work while invoking the rule of law and common sense is a situation that a democratic republic can never tolerate," adding, "If he continues reckless behavior by abusing investigative powers while ignoring his own illegal acts, he must remember that what awaits him is the judgment of the people and impeachment by the National Assembly."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking about the three major disqualifications of Byeon Chang-heum, nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and current issues such as securing COVID-19 vaccines at a press briefing held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News.

The opposition immediately voiced strong criticism. On the 27th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, "After the judiciary's decisions on Jeong Gyeong-sim's detention and the suspension of Yoon Seok-yeol's disciplinary action, the ruling coalition has lost its reason," criticizing, "When cornered by their own mistakes and blunders, they even called the courts a privileged alliance and brought out the extreme measure of impeaching Yoon Seok-yeol."

He continued, "If the Democratic Party, intoxicated by power and parliamentary seats like a drunken madman wielding a sword, attempts to impeach Yoon Seok-yeol, they will inevitably face massive public anger and head down the path of self-destruction," issuing a warning.

Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out on his Facebook, "The last desperate struggles of the pro-Moon faction are becoming increasingly absurd," describing them as "people who force gangster loyalty, those obsessed with candlelight protests, and those recklessly calling for Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment without regard for consequences."

Another party member, Jeong Jin-seok, strongly criticized the impeachment discussions within the ruling party on his Facebook, saying, "Impeachment over something that couldn't even warrant a two-month suspension... what nonsense is this?"

Kim Ki-hyun wrote on his Facebook, "Now they say they will amend the law to strip Prosecutor General Yoon of his command authority. It looks like watching a madman's frenzied sword dance," and criticized, "Making laws because of a specific person and amending laws to avoid a specific person is reckless and immature, like someone desperately taking methamphetamine."

Na Kyung-won, former member of the Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the People Power Party), harshly criticized the impeachment talk on her Facebook, saying, "After failing to oust Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, this administration brazenly brings up impeachment of the Prosecutor General."

She added, "This is the final stage of this administration's judicial takeover in three steps," pointing out, "Abuse of personnel and disciplinary authority is the first stage, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency is the second, and now the third stage is 'clearing judges and prosecutors.' This is not personal persecution of Yoon Seok-yeol but the full-scale control of judicial order."

Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam University, chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong district of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Geun-sik, chairman of the Songpa District branch of the People Power Party and professor at Gyeongnam National University, criticized on his Facebook, "They are utterly crazy," calling the proposal to reopen the disciplinary committee to correct procedural errors "ignorant nonsense lacking even basic legal knowledge." He further pointed out, "Ultimately, prosecutorial reform was solely aimed at securing safety for President Moon Jae-in after his term."

Professor Kim also said, "From the Ulsan mayoral election manipulation, the Wolseong nuclear power plant fabrication, to the controversy over abuse of authority in disciplining the Prosecutor General, they are desperately trying to oust Prosecutor General Yoon for fear of being struck back by the post-retirement purge," adding, "Indeed, ignorance is bold and simple."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People's Party, also pointed out on his Facebook, "They must realize that governance can no longer be conducted through force, sophistry, and the private use of power."

Meanwhile, former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party, criticized the impeachment talk, saying, "Pushing for impeachment now is a shallow tactic to gain points from hardline supporters," and added, "I truly cannot tolerate dividing the people."

Kim Hyun-chul, executive director of the Kim Young-sam Democratic Center and second son of former President Kim Young-sam, said, "They made a fuss about disciplining (Prosecutor General Yoon) and resorted to a trick of a two-month suspension, only to be struck down by the judiciary, and now they say they will impeach him?" He challenged, "Go ahead and try. They seem to think the world is very easy just because they hold a handful of power, but let's see what the outcome will be."