Park Hong-geun "Impeachment Committee Fails to Fulfill Duties"
Jin Sun-mi "Impeachment Committee Must Be Formed Through Consultation"
Kim Do-eup "Only Constitutional Court's Legal Judgment Remains, No Room for Intervention" Rebuttal
[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Juyoun Oh] On the 20th, the Democratic Party of Korea held the first meeting of the 'Task Force for Responding to the Impeachment Trial of Minister of the Interior and Safety Sang-min Lee' and urged Kim Do-eup, chairman of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party, who became an impeachment prosecutor, to promptly form the prosecution team. In response, Chairman Kim's side opposed, stating, "Since the role of the prosecution team is also stipulated by law, we will act according to the law and principles," and demanded an end to insults and threats.
Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, pointed out at the TF's first meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "Chairman Kim Do-eup of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee has not even formed the prosecution team as a prosecutor," and added, "He requests a swift decision from the Constitutional Court but does not fulfill his duties as a prosecutor."
He continued, calling it a "clear dereliction of duty," and emphasized, "Chairman Kim is not just a single member of the National Assembly but clearly an institution. He must act according to the decisions of the National Assembly, not to protect the administration or for party interests." He further urged, "If he does not fulfill his duties, we strongly urge him to promptly delegate even to a legal representative team."
Jin Sun-mi, the head of the TF, also criticized, "Chairman Kim is taking a passive stance on forming the prosecution team and is reportedly unilaterally looking for legal representatives," and pointed out, "The petitioner in the impeachment trial procedure under the National Assembly Act is the 'National Assembly,' and the prosecutors act as representatives conducting the lawsuit on behalf of the National Assembly. This must never be forgotten."
Jin said, "The impeachment motion against Minister Sang-min Lee was passed with 179 votes in favor, more than the number of lawmakers from the three opposition parties who proposed it," and stressed, "As the prosecution team from the National Assembly, the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee has the duty to do his best to ensure that the impeachment motion, overwhelmingly passed by the National Assembly plenary session, is accepted by the Constitutional Court. We hope that the prosecution team and legal representatives for the impeachment trial of Sang-min Lee will be promptly formed in consultation with the opposition parties as soon as possible."
She also referred to precedents in 2004 and 2017 when the prosecution team and legal representatives were formed through bipartisan consultation during two previous impeachment trials.
On the 15th, at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Chairman Kim Do-eup is striking the gavel. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
In response, Chairman Kim's side rebutted, calling it an "unconvincing and unreasonable claim."
In a statement released that day, Chairman Kim said, "The decision on the impeachment trial is made by the Constitutional Court based on this material, judging according to law and principles," and pointed out, "Nevertheless, if the Democratic Party continues to insult and threaten the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, who is the prosecutor, it indicates a lack of legitimacy in the impeachment prosecution."
He added, "Whether the prosecutor is Chairman Kim Do-eup or anyone else, there is no room for interference," and emphasized, "I will fulfill the duties stipulated by law."
The impeachment motion against Minister Lee was submitted to the Constitutional Court on the 9th, initiating the impeachment trial, and the Constitutional Court has also formed a TF to begin reviewing legal issues and points of contention.
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