Presidential Office Responds to Opposition's 'Impeachment Hearing' Push: "Unconstitutional and Illegal Hearing Cannot Be Accepted"

"Cases Under Investigation or Trial Are Not Subject to Petitions"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the 16th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office stated on the 16th that it "cannot comply with unconstitutional and illegal hearings" regarding the opposition party's push for a 'Petition for the Impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol' in the National Assembly.

A Presidential Office official, speaking to reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day when asked about the office's stance on the impeachment hearing, said, "The Presidential Office has not compromised on matters that have illegal or unconstitutional implications."

The official added, "There is controversy within the political sphere about the illegality and potential unconstitutionality of the National Assembly's impeachment hearing," and noted, "I understand that a constitutional dispute adjudication and a provisional injunction to suspend its effect have been filed with the Constitutional Court, so we need to observe the situation in the National Assembly."

In particular, it was explained that this impeachment petition does not meet the reasons stipulated in Article 65 of the Constitution. The official said, "The Constitution stipulates that the National Assembly can impeach when the President or other high-ranking officials violate the Constitution or laws, so one can question whether the grounds for impeachment align with Article 65 of the Constitution."

Furthermore, "Regarding the five reasons for impeachment claimed by the opposition party, the suspicion of stock manipulation involving Mrs. Kim occurred before marriage, and ongoing investigations or trials are not subjects of the petition, so there are procedural issues as well," the official stated.