Opposition adopts additional witnesses including Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok... Ruling party calls impeachment hearing null and void

Yoo Sang-beom "Jung Cheong-rae Admits Illegality in Impeachment Petition Review"
Ruling Party's Hearing Attendance Likely Decided by 18th

Members of the People Power Party's Legislation and Judiciary Committee issued a statement criticizing the additional witness adoption of Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok and Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok in the hearing related to the impeachment petition of President Yoon Seok-yeol, calling the impeachment petition hearing "null and void from the outset."

Jeong Cheong-rae, Chairman of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is conversing with Yoo Sang-beom, the ruling party's floor leader, and Kim Seung-won, the opposition party's floor leader, about the discussion method during the full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 16th, all members of the People Power Party's Legislation and Judiciary Committee stated in a press release, "The public's fatigue with the Democratic Party's impeachment politics is soaring," and added, "Chairman Jeong should reflect on the spirit of integration, cooperation, and consensus of the Constituent National Assembly." They continued, "The impeachment petition hearing, which is filled with absurd interpretations ignoring the Petition Act and the National Assembly Act, is null and void from the outset," emphasizing, "Therefore, there is no obligation for witnesses to appear, and it is natural not to respond."

Regarding the ruling party members not participating in the vote, they said, "Article 60 of the National Assembly Act guarantees the maximum opportunity for members to speak in standing committees," and added, "Nevertheless, Chairman Jeong once again interpreted the National Assembly Act at his convenience to forcibly end the debate and proceed with the vote, which is why our party did not participate in the vote." Furthermore, they added, "In addition, Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae insulted and made inappropriate remarks to fellow lawmakers, saying, 'We've heard enough. If you want to say something, go to the communication office.'

On the same day, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a plenary meeting and additionally adopted four witnesses besides Prosecutor General Lee and Chief of Staff Jeong regarding suspicions about First Lady Kim Geon-hee. The additional witnesses were Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs of the Presidential Office; Song Chang-jin, Acting Deputy Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office; Kang Ui-gu, Secretary of the Presidential Office; and Lee Dong-hyuk, Director of the Presidential Archives. The ruling party members protested and left the meeting, so the witness adoption was carried out solely by the opposition party.

After the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly on the same day, Representative Yoo said to reporters, "During the meeting, Chairman Jeong clearly stated that the committee only discusses the impeachment petition related to the president but does not have the authority to vote on the impeachment proposal," adding, "This means that the agenda, which the committee has no authority to vote on, was brought up under the name of important agenda review just for discussion. In other words, Chairman Jeong's words admit that the review of the impeachment petition itself is an issue that cannot be decided and is therefore illegal." He continued, "How much confusion South Korea is currently facing due to Chairman Jeong's unilateral operation of the committee," and said, "If this continues, the People Power Party will continuously take all necessary measures, including filing a constitutional dispute over Chairman Jeong's actions."

When asked whether he would completely abstain from the impeachment petition hearing for President Yoon scheduled on the 19th, Representative Yoo replied, "There have been various discussions among lawmakers, and there is a strong view that witnesses do not need to appear at a hearing that is null and void from the outset and should not attend. However, I also believe it is the ruling party's duty to prevent government members, government officials, and witnesses from being subjected to personal attacks, such as insulting witnesses who appear and forcibly ejecting them without grounds. Therefore, a final position will likely be announced late on the 18th or on the morning of the 19th."