Why Did the Democratic Party Bring Up the Prime Minister's Dismissal Proposal?

Ruling Party: "Prime Minister Dismissal Cannot Be Seen as a Demand from the Ruling Party"
Opposition: "Lee Should Reflect on the Reason for His Hunger Strike"

As Lee Jae-myung's hunger strike continues, the Democratic Party of Korea has pulled out the card of recommending the dismissal of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. This is interpreted as a move to pressure the government, which has consistently responded with silence to Lee's hunger strike.

In political circles, many view the Democratic Party's sudden proposal to dismiss the Prime Minister as an exit strategy for the hunger strike political deadlock. The Presidential Office and the People Power Party criticized it as a "desperate political struggle."

On the evening of the 16th, the 17th day of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea's hunger strike, Park Kwang-on, floor leader, announced the emergency resolution of the members' meeting at the National Assembly.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 16th, the Democratic Party held an emergency party meeting and resolved five matters, including submitting a motion to dismiss Prime Minister Han. Park Kwang-on, the floor leader, stated immediately after the emergency meeting, "All Democratic Party lawmakers declare an all-out struggle against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's tyranny and prosecutorial dictatorship."

The resolution included demands for the resignation of the entire Yoon Seok-yeol administration cabinet, immediate submission of the motion to dismiss Prime Minister Han, introduction of a special prosecutor to investigate the obstruction and cover-up of the investigation into the death of a Marine officer by the Presidential Office, and impeachment of prosecutors.

Analysts interpret this as an attempt to devise an exit strategy by exerting stronger pressure on the ruling party, given that there is no suitable reason for Lee to stop his hunger strike. Lee's hunger strike, which began on the 31st of last month, has continued for nearly 20 days, but the Presidential Office has shown little response so far. Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, has only requested twice via Facebook that Lee stop his hunger strike.

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sung-jun said in an interview with YTN Radio on the 18th about the background of pushing for the dismissal motion, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has had issues such as the Itaewon disaster, Osong underpass disaster, Jamboree fiasco, and the cover-up and manipulation regarding Marine Corporal Chae, but no one has taken responsibility or stepped down." He added, "At this point, for a major shift in government reform, the Democratic Party's position is that the entire cabinet should resign and the Prime Minister should be dismissed on behalf of President Yoon Seok-yeol, who bears all responsibility."

The Presidential Office and the People Power Party poured criticism on the Democratic Party's push for the Prime Minister's dismissal motion. A senior official from the Presidential Office told Yonhap News, "At a time when everyone should be working together and making efforts, isn't the victim of this desperate struggle ultimately the people?"

Kang Min-kook, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement saying, "Lee's hunger strike is nothing more than a baseless show, but still, the People Power Party has expressed concern for Lee's health." He criticized, "However, the Democratic Party's response was oddly directed at the Yoon Seok-yeol government. Demands such as 'cabinet resignation' and 'Prime Minister dismissal' cannot be seen as demands from a legitimate political party in South Korea."

Some argue that pulling out the dismissal and impeachment cards without clear reasons could be a self-defeating move. However, the Democratic Party emphasizes that the reason for Lee's hunger strike also lies in the Presidential Office's reluctance to engage in dialogue with the opposition party.

Seo Young-kyo, a senior member of the Democratic Party, referred to a remark by a Presidential Office official reported by some media, saying, "Who told him to go on a hunger strike?" She said in a BBS Radio interview, "I really thought the Presidential Office would go all the way to the end," adding, "Perhaps we need to reflect on the reason for this fight, which is fought with a resolve to die, but since they do not, this is why Lee has no choice but to conduct a hunger strike with a resolve to die."