Opposition Criticizes Impeachment Push Against 'Prosecutor Investigating Lee Jae-myung'
"They Just Want Investigation Rights Given to the Democratic Party"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the 2nd at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office strongly criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for causing a gap in government operations due to their repeated impeachment efforts, which led to the voluntary resignations of former Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-gwan and current Chairman Kim Hong-il.
A Presidential Office official told reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 2nd, "It is very regrettable that such situations, where the Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman resigns due to the Democratic Party continuously talking about impeachment, are repeating."
Earlier, Chairman Kim expressed his intention to resign voluntarily before the impeachment motion against him was reported at the National Assembly plenary session that day. President Yoon Seok-yeol immediately accepted his resignation and approved the dismissal. As a result, Chairman Kim stepped down about six months after his appointment on December 29 of last year.
Kim’s predecessor, former Chairman Lee Dong-gwan, also announced his voluntary resignation in advance when the Democratic Party pushed for impeachment at the end of last year, and President Yoon promptly accepted it, leading to his departure. Thus, two Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairmen resigned consecutively in the same manner.
If an impeachment motion led by the opposition party passes a vote in the National Assembly, the Chairman’s duties are suspended for up to 180 days until the Constitutional Court’s decision, paralyzing the Commission’s work. It is interpreted that the 'voluntary resignation' card was used to prevent this.
The Presidential Office official pointed out, "I do not think the Democratic Party clearly has grounds for impeaching the Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman based on any obvious illegal acts," and expressed concern over "the Democratic Party’s reckless impeachment efforts that continue to create gaps in government operations."
He added, "President Yoon is closely monitoring this situation and has instructed that the process of appointing a successor be carried out properly to prevent any gaps in government operations."
Lee Jin-sook, former president of Daejeon MBC, is being strongly considered as the next Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman. Lee previously served as a media spokesperson during President Yoon’s presidential campaign. A Presidential Office official said, "I do not think a successor will be decided immediately today."
Kim Hong-il, the Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission who voluntarily resigned before the National Assembly processed his impeachment motion, is leaving the Communications Commission within the Government Complex Gwacheon after his retirement ceremony on the 2nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office also strongly criticized the Democratic Party for pushing impeachment motions against prosecutors who investigated former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, following the impeachment of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman.
The official said, "Continuously talking about special prosecutors and impeaching the prosecutors who investigated former leader Lee Jae-myung ultimately means they just want the investigative authority to be handed over to the Democratic Party."
He continued, "In the case of special prosecutors, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) operates like a permanent special prosecutor, but since they do not trust the CIO either, they want to have special prosecutors appointed, and want to be able to designate the special prosecutors themselves," adding, "Ultimately, it is nothing other than wanting to conduct investigations in the way the Democratic Party desires."
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