Democratic Party Holds Afternoon Meeting to Make Lee Sang-min's Impeachment Party Policy
Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Also Accelerating... Possible 추진 Within February
Concerns Raised Over 방탄 Controversy
[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Jun-i] The Democratic Party of Korea has begun to actively push for a special prosecution regarding the stock manipulation allegations against First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the impeachment of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min. Concerns are mounting both inside and outside the party about the inevitable controversy over Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung’s ‘shielding’ amid his judicial risks.
On the 2nd, after the opening ceremony of the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly at 2 p.m., the Democratic Party plans to hold a party meeting to receive a report from the related task force on the allegations against First Lady Kim and then discuss the impeachment of Minister Lee, proceeding with steps such as adopting a party stance. Democratic Party floor spokesperson Lee Su-jin expressed confidence in the meeting’s outcome regarding impeachment, saying, "The leadership intends to promote it as a party stance through active opinions from the lawmakers." If the impeachment of Minister Lee passes the party meeting, it will go through the Supreme Council for discussion, and the final timing of the proposal will be decided. Within the Democratic Party, there was skepticism about the likelihood of impeachment being accepted at this time, but after going through a state audit and other procedures, the atmosphere is shifting toward increasing the chances of acceptance.
Within the party, preparatory work for the special prosecution and impeachment is also accelerating. The day before, the Democratic Party held the first public meeting of the ‘Kim Geon-hee Stock Manipulation Truth Investigation Task Force.’ Regarding this meeting, spokesperson Lee said, "At yesterday’s TF meeting on Kim’s stock manipulation, it was said that a special prosecution is inevitable and that the indictment of Choi Eun-soon (President Yoon Seok-yeol’s mother-in-law) should be considered," adding, "There is a voice that it would be appropriate to handle this within February."
About 50 lawmakers from the party, centered on the hardline first-term lawmakers’ group ‘Cheoreomhoe,’ held a sit-in discussion at the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly from the previous day until 3 a.m. on this day, pushing for the special prosecution of First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the dismissal of Minister Lee Sang-min. Around 8:20 a.m. that day, lawmakers who gathered again at the sit-in site holding placards held a press conference, stating, "We urge President Yoon Seok-yeol not to continue to cover up the overwhelming stock manipulation allegations against First Lady Kim and to immediately accept the ‘Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecution.’ We also demand the immediate dismissal of Minister Lee, who is responsible for the October 29 disaster."
Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the sit-in protest held in the Rodender Hall in front of the National Assembly plenary session hall on the 2nd, which called for a special investigation into First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the dismissal of Minister Lee Sang-min, and gave a greeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
They declared their intention to continue the sit-in at the National Assembly until their demands are met. Lawmaker Yoon Young-duk, who participated in the sit-in, emphasized, "From now on, I will guard this Rotunda Hall, strengthen our fighting spirit, and raise our voices," adding, "We will not tolerate the collapse of the Republic of Korea due to the incompetent, irresponsible, and ruthless Yoon administration’s tyranny." They plan to continue a 24-hour sit-in with 5 to 6 members taking turns daily for the time being.
Additionally, the Democratic Party plans to gather all its forces on the 4th to hold a national report meeting in Seoul to condemn the Yoon Seok-yeol government’s state administration.
Political circles widely interpret that these issues are unfolding in conjunction with the possibility of Lee Jae-myung’s re-summoning and indictment by prosecutors. Inside the party, voices of concern are emerging about this trend.
Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-chun appeared on KBS Radio’s ‘Choi Kyung-young’s Strong Current Affairs’ on the same day and said, "I think a special prosecution is necessary for the First Lady’s case," but insisted, "It should be argued separately from (Leader Lee’s judicial risks)." Cho said, "As the opposition, we must conduct a special prosecution because we cannot tolerate unfair opposition suppression by political prosecutors and the collapse of the rule of law, but do you think the public will see this as unrelated to shielding?" He added, "I think it is right to take a breather after the investigation of Leader Lee is somewhat settled." Regarding the street protests, he said, "I understand the intention, but how it looks may be more important than the facts," adding, "In the end, it can be seen as a countermeasure to shield."
The ruling party also criticized the Democratic Party’s full-scale offensive. At the emergency committee meeting that day, People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok questioned, "Why did the Democratic Party, which dominates the National Assembly and continues its unchecked tyranny, choose the minority party’s method of street protests?" He criticized, "Is the Democratic Party planning to disappear into the annals of history along with one-person power-type corruption?" At the same meeting, People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young said, "Who would believe the Democratic Party’s claim to hold a special prosecution now for a case they couldn’t even indict when they controlled the prosecution and conducted reckless investigations during their past administration?" He added, "I hope the Democratic Party does not suffer the embarrassment of chasing chickens and looking up at the roof by making unreasonable claims."
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