Hyun Geun-taek Points Out 'President Yoon's Fear of Impeachment'
Fewer Defections Needed Than During Park's Era
Approval Votes Near 200 If 20% Group Resigns
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Controversy over 'presidential party withdrawal' and 'presidential impeachment' has erupted in the People Power Party's party convention. The first controversy arose from the remarks of lawyer Shin Pyeong, who was mentioned as President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'mentor' and served as the sponsorship chairman for candidate Kim Ki-hyun. The second controversy escalated when candidate Kim himself directly mentioned it. There are also criticisms suggesting that President Yoon might actually be fearful of 'impeachment.'
On the 13th, Hyun Geun-taek, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that the presidential office is remaining silent about candidate Kim's 'presidential impeachment' remarks, criticizing, "President Yoon is anxious, exposing that he feels 'he could also be impeached,' because he himself has experienced it, showing such anxiety."
Candidate Kim made remarks to the effect that "if a person with presidential ambitions becomes the party leader, a clash between current and future powers could make presidential impeachment possible," which led to demands for an apology from candidate Ahn Cheol-soo's camp. Candidate Cheon Ha-ram of the 'Lee Jun-seok faction' also criticized Kim's remarks.
However, candidate Kim did not retract his statement through his social media, saying, "Candidate Ahn has previously made claims similar to those of the Democratic Party and demanded the dismissal of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min. Although it is early in the administration and he might be cautious of the president now, once he becomes the party leader, he could reasonably worry about pointing a knife at the president, like 'impeaching this minister.'"
Deputy Director Hyun pointed out that while the presidential office reacted sensitively to candidate Ahn's remarks about the 'Yoon-Ahn (Yoon Seok-yeol - Ahn Cheol-soo) alliance,' it is remaining silent about candidate Kim's remarks, which amounts to tacit approval. He said, "The presidential office should have warned candidate Kim Ki-hyun or publicly told him to stop mentioning anything related to the president or the party, but it is quiet now," adding, "It seems the presidential office tolerates the talk of party withdrawal and impeachment, thinking it might help gain votes or stimulate party members a bit."
Candidate Ahn's camp also expressed discomfort with the presidential office's attitude. Kim Young-woo, the senior campaign committee member of Ahn Cheol-soo's camp, criticized on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "Why doesn't the presidential office clearly state that it is neutral in this party convention?" and pointed out, "When Yoon's core aides (Yunhaekgwan) come, people called 'Daesilgwan' (presidential office officials) appear."
On the 7th, at a broadcasting studio in Seoul, candidates Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Cheol-soo are conversing during the People Power Party's 3rd party convention candidate vision presentation. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
Candidate Cheon also countered by saying that candidate Kim himself has presidential ambitions. On the same day, on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' he said, "As far as I know, candidate Kim also has presidential ambitions. When he ran for Ulsan mayor, he openly talked about it. As a party leader, it is natural to think about the presidency because the leader is the major figure of the party."
Candidate Kim's mention of the possibility of 'presidential impeachment' seems to have been influenced by the passage of the impeachment motion against Minister Lee, led by the Democratic Party, in the plenary session. He also justified his stance on his social media, saying, "The major opposition party recklessly passed the impeachment motion against Minister Lee. No illegalities were revealed, but they pushed it through with their numbers. We know well that this is a rehearsal aimed ultimately at President Yoon."
The Democratic Party and the three opposition parties passed the impeachment motion against Minister Lee with 179 votes in favor, and speculation that some People Power Party members defected during the process is also a factor that stirs anxiety among conservatives. Assuming 179 votes is a fixed number, if just 21 defectors (19% of the People Power Party's 110 seats) emerge, the impeachment motion against President Yoon could pass.
During former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment, defections within the party were also a key factor in the impeachment's success. The number of votes for the impeachment motion was 234, well above the 200-vote approval threshold. At that time, excluding the ruling party, there were 172 members, so 28 defections from the ruling party were needed for the impeachment to pass. The current situation is more precarious than then.
Former President Park Geun-hye briefly looks up at the sky during the inauguration ceremony of the 20th president held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
Jo Won-jin, leader of the Our Republican Party, predicted that if candidate Cheon's support rate exceeds 20%, a mass withdrawal from the ruling party could occur. On the 13th, on YTN's 'News King Park Ji-hoon,' Jo said, "If the support rate exceeds 20%, even if it falls later, having exceeded 20% means significant influence," adding, "Looking at the actions of Yoon's core aides and the presidential office's interference in party affairs, it inevitably leads to purges in candidate nominations."
He said, "These issues will unfold between April and October," and "Even if no official list of targets is released, about 30 members in constituencies think, 'I won't get nominated.' If just 20% of all members withdraw and form a new party, and they vote in favor of impeachment, it would approach the 200-vote approval threshold."
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