Democratic Party Pushes Yoon Impeachment Petition Hearing... Ruling Party Calls It a "Global Comedy"

The First Ever National Consent Petition Hearing in Constitutional History
Ruling and Opposition Clash... "Important Issue" VS "Nonsense"
Pros and Cons of the Democratic Party-Led 'Hearing Politics'

The Democratic Party of Korea announced that it will hold a hearing related to the 'Petition Requesting the Impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol' through the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee (Legislation Committee). This is the first time in constitutional history that a hearing has been held regarding a national petition. Since last month, the Democratic Party has been pressuring the government and ruling party by initiating 'hearing politics,' including legislative hearings.

The Legislation Committee will hold a plenary meeting at 2 p.m. on the 9th to place the petition requesting President Yoon's impeachment on the agenda. It will then vote on adopting the hearing implementation plan related to the petition, requesting document submissions, and summoning witnesses and reference persons. This decision was made during a meeting of Democratic Party members of the Legislation Committee on the afternoon of the 8th. According to the hearing implementation plan, the Legislation Committee plans to hold hearings twice, on the 19th and 26th. The National Assembly Act stipulates that hearings can be held by committee resolution when necessary for reviewing important agenda items, national audits, or investigations. The Democratic Party is promoting the hearing based on the fact that the petition is an 'important agenda item.'

Jeong Cheong-rae, Chairman of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly on the 14th of last month. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The petition requesting the initiation of an impeachment motion against President Yoon exceeded 100,000 national consents within five days and was submitted to the Legislation Committee on the 23rd of last month. As of that day, the number of national consents exceeded 1.3 million. According to current regulations, a petition with more than 50,000 consents within 30 days is referred to the petition review subcommittee of the relevant standing committee. If the review finds it valid, it can be brought to the plenary session and, if passed, forwarded to the government. Holding a hearing in the relevant standing committee (Legislation Committee) separately from the review process is unprecedented.

Since the 22nd National Assembly, the Democratic Party has been pushing forward 'hearing politics.' Until now, hearings mainly consisted of confirmation hearings where the National Assembly verifies candidates when the president appoints high-ranking administrative officials. Legislative hearings were first implemented in 2013 and were held a total of four times until the 21st National Assembly. On the 21st of last month, the Democratic Party held the fifth-ever legislative hearing on the special prosecutor law for Cha Sang-byeong in the Legislation Committee. Additionally, the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee held a legislative hearing on the amendment to the Broadcasting and Communications Commission Act, and the Environment and Labor Committee held a legislative hearing on the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act). There were also hearings related to current issues in the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and the Health and Welfare Committee.

Through 'hearing politics,' the Democratic Party brought the People Power Party, which had been boycotting the National Assembly, back to the table. When government officials did not attend the standing committee's work reports and current issue inquiries conducted solely by the Democratic Party, the party used hearings, which allow summoning witnesses and reference persons, to call government officials. Moreover, the Democratic Party pressured the government and ruling party and consolidated its support base by rigorously questioning current issues during the hearings.

On the morning of the 21st of last month, a legislative hearing on the "Special Prosecutor Appointment Act for the Investigation of Obstruction and Cover-up of the Truth Regarding the Death in the Line of Duty of a Marine" (Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act) was held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, with members of the People Power Party absent. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, if hearing politics continue even after the People Power Party's return to the National Assembly, conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties may intensify. On the morning of the same day, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized at a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly, saying, "Discussing such an absurd petition in the sacred National Assembly is truly a world comedy," and added, "The Democratic Party chants impeachment like '18 times' whenever they open their mouths; it's time to stop and change their favorite song from impeachment to people's livelihood." On the same morning, floor spokesperson Jo Ji-yeon told reporters, "The arrogant idea that shaking the regime is all that matters is regrettable," and criticized, "It is very unfortunate that the legislative schedule is proceeding unilaterally."