"Go Down" vs "Reflection" Heated Debate Everywhere... Chaos at Sangmin Lee's 'Impeachment National Assembly'

Ruling and Opposition Parties Engage in Fierce Tensions Over Impeachment Proposal
Impeachment Proposal Explanation Mentions Names of Itaewon Victims
After Approval, Picketing and Chants Signal 'Second Round'

[Asia Economy Reporters Junyi Park and Youngwon Kim] "The victims of the impeachment for shielding are the people!" vs "Dismiss Lee Sang-min!"

On the 8th, the rotunda hall in front of the National Assembly plenary session hall, where the vote on the impeachment motion against Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, took place, was in chaos with slogans and shouts from the two major parties mixed together.

At the plenary session that day, the People Power Party proposed a motion to refer the impeachment motion to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for discussion, but it was rejected due to opposition from opposition party members. When Song Eon-seok, a People Power Party lawmaker who explained the proposal, argued that "there is no impeachment requirement stipulated in the Constitution," "there has never been a case in South Korea's history where an impeachment motion against a cabinet member was passed," and "this was hastily made as a political attack to shield Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea," some opposition lawmakers reacted strongly.

On the 8th, at the 4th plenary session of the 403rd National Assembly (extraordinary session) held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, members of the People Power Party displayed placards condemning the vote on the impeachment motion against Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

When Song said, "I will read the Constitutional Court ruling on former President Roh Moo-hyun," Yang Yi-won-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker, shouted, "Several people died, but you have not apologized even once." Song responded, "Lawmaker Yang, it would be better to maintain mutual respect; I would appreciate your attention."

As he continued his speech for about 30 minutes, Democratic Party lawmakers criticized, saying, "Step down," and "Who speaks for 30 minutes during a proposal explanation?" Song retorted with "Reflection." Throughout the plenary hall, cheers from ruling party lawmakers and criticisms from opposition lawmakers were mixed.

It was the same when the agenda to vote on the impeachment motion against Minister Lee was submitted before the government questioning. Ruling party lawmakers strongly opposed, saying, "Is it right to change the schedule arbitrarily?"

Democratic Party Lawmaker Kim Seung-won Calls Out Names of Itaewon Tragedy Victims in Impeachment Motion Explanation

Before the vote on the impeachment motion, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won mentioned the victims of the Itaewon tragedy and gave an explanatory proposal on the impeachment motion. He called out the names of those who died in the Itaewon tragedy one by one, saying, "We are sorry for not protecting you, truly sorry." Lawmaker Kim emphasized, "Although today may remain a sorrowful history in the constitutional history of South Korea, I hope it will be recorded that the state acknowledged its failure to protect its people and that the National Assembly held the government accountable to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again, fulfilling responsibility even after the fact."

After the impeachment motion against Minister Lee was passed, the People Power Party immediately held a condemnation rally on the stairs outside the plenary hall. About 80 party members, including Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok and floor leader Joo Ho-young, held banners reading "Forced passage of impeachment = Shielding Lee Jae-myung" and shouted slogans loudly such as "Stop the superpower bullying politics of the major opposition party" and "The victims of the impeachment for shielding are the people."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a rally condemning the passage of the impeachment motion against Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, held on the stairs of the Rotunda Hall after the motion was passed at the National Assembly plenary session in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

At this event, Floor Leader Joo said, "A large truck without brakes or with broken brakes sometimes turns into a weapon, and the Democratic Party is exactly like that now," adding, "If you go deeper, it seems to include refusal to accept the presidential election results." Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong also raised his voice, saying, "What has the Democratic Party, the main opposition party, shown? Have they cared about people's livelihoods? Have they agreed on the overall direction of the country?" He continued, "They are using their overwhelming number of seats to effectively reject the results of the Yoon administration's presidential election and are not just obstructing but breaking the government's legs." Following speeches by lawmakers Lee Man-hee and Kim Byung-wook, members responded with shouts of "That's right" and "Well done."

After the condemnation rally ended, Floor Leader Joo told reporters, "We are not currently considering a boycott of the February National Assembly." He stated, "We believe the people and the Constitutional Court will properly judge the impeachment case. Despite the Democratic Party's violent actions, we have many pressing issues such as the difficult economic situation, supply chain problems, and rising energy prices, so we have no intention of boycotting or ignoring the National Assembly. We will take the lead in actively resolving livelihood bills and issues in the February extraordinary session."

Democratic Party Holds "Truth Investigation" Press Conference, Ruling Party Holds Counter Rally Condemning Impeachment Motion Passage

At the same time, on the other side in front of the plenary hall, Democratic Party members of the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor and Lee Sang-min Dismissal Promotion Action Group' held placards reading "Dismiss Lee Sang-min" and held a press conference stating, "Since this is a difficult path we have returned to, we will now boldly proceed without hesitation to investigate the truth, punish those responsible, and establish measures to prevent recurrence, comforting the bereaved families and survivors and rebuilding the foundation for their daily lives." Due to the loud slogans from the ruling party's condemnation rally, the voices of Democratic Party lawmakers were sometimes drowned out.

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the sit-in protest site held in the Rodender Hall in front of the National Assembly plenary session hall on the 2nd, calling 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@

After the plenary session, Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-geun met with Lee Jong-cheol, representative of the bereaved families' association, saying, "This was not a political intention but purely out of concern for the lives and safety of the people. The three opposition parties united to pass the impeachment motion against Minister Lee in accordance with the Constitution and the National Assembly Act." He added, "We expect the Constitutional Court to make a wise decision for the people's lives, safety, and the country's future."

In response, Representative Lee said, "Today, I watched closely with my family in the National Assembly meeting room. If the president had dismissed Minister Lee, we would not have had to go through such a complicated procedure. If he had resigned and apologized on his own, we bereaved families would not have come to the National Assembly like this." He urged, "I hope they will fulfill their responsibility up to the enactment of a special law for truth investigation." He added, "The bereaved families will watch closely with wide-open eyes whatever judgment the Constitutional Court makes in the future."