Kim Jong-min "Impeachment of Yoon with 168 Seats? An Unreasonable Talk"

Kim Yong-min Claims "Discharge of Contaminated Water Is Grounds for Impeachment"
Kim Jong-min Says "Impeachment Card Is Heavy... Still Premature"

Kim Jong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed caution on the 23rd regarding fellow party member Kim Yong-min's proposal to file an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, saying, "While it is possible to personally advocate and shout for it at the Gwanghwamun rally, it seems a bit too much for a member of the National Assembly or our party to push for it at this point."

On the 23rd, on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' Kim said, "Among the people of the Republic of Korea, there are quite a few who think that the Yoon Suk-yeol government should step down, resign, or leave," but added, "In my view, politically, the impeachment card is too heavy a card to bring up just to raise an issue."

Earlier, on the 22nd, Kim Yong-min stated on his Facebook, "With 168 seats in the Democratic Party, let's file an impeachment motion against Yoon Suk-yeol," adding, "It is possible with the Democratic Party alone. Now is the time to do it." On the same morning, he also posted an article related to the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated water from the nuclear power plant, saying, "If this is not stopped, the Yoon Suk-yeol government has no reason to exist. It is grounds for impeachment, and the resignation movement will intensify."

Kim Jong-min, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

However, Kim expressed the view that passing the impeachment itself would be difficult.

He said, "Honestly, I wonder how they can manage state affairs like this. Even looking at the Liberation Day speech on August 15, that is not something a president should say," and added, "Regarding the government's stance on Fukushima contaminated water this time, it really makes me think, is this a government that stands with the people of the Republic of Korea?"

At the same time, he explained, "But impeachment fundamentally means temporarily changing or suspending the constitution of the Republic of Korea," and "While there are people who want that, there are also many who do not or who worry about it, so it must be pursued responsibly." He continued, "In other words, if impeachment is pursued, there must be confidence that the impeachment will be passed and upheld by the Constitutional Court," and pointed out, "But even passing the motion itself is difficult right now."

When the host asked, "When you say it is still too much for now, does that mean the impeachment card could be brought out if the situation matures?" Kim replied, "If the Yoon Suk-yeol government continues to make mistakes and engages in truly illegal actions that violate laws or the spirit of the constitution, such a day might come. However, impeachment requires the approval of more than 200 members of the National Assembly," adding, "If such a consensus is reached, it might be possible, but the situation is not there yet."