'Democratic Party Dissolution', 'Jeong Cheong-rae Dismissal'... All National Petitions Surpass 50,000 Signatures

"Democratic Party Violates Democratic Fundamental Order"

A National Assembly petition urging the 'request for the dissolution trial of the Democratic Party of Korea' received more than 50,000 signatures, the requirement for National Assembly review, on the 22nd.

The petitioner, Mr. Ko, stated on the 11th regarding the petition, "Article 55 of the Constitutional Court Act stipulates that 'When the purpose or activities of a political party violate the democratic basic order, the government may request the Constitutional Court to dissolve the party after deliberation by the State Council.' Since the activities of the Democratic Party of Korea violate the democratic basic order, I request the National Assembly to immediately submit a resolution urging the government to file a request for the dissolution trial of the unconstitutional party."

[Image source=National Assembly Public Consent Petition website]

The petitioner claimed that the Democratic Party attempted to remove the word 'freedom' from the term 'liberal democracy' in the Constitution, supported the entry of three Progressive Party members into the National Assembly, acting as a 'host for the unconstitutional Progressive Party,' and violated the liberal democratic basic order by infringing on judicial independence to shield former leader Lee Jae-myung from judicial risks.

He also said, "In the case of the Democratic Party, as seen above, its activities violate the liberal democratic basic order, including popular sovereignty, separation of powers, economic order based on private property and market economy, and judicial independence, making it a clearly unconstitutional party. In the case of an unconstitutional party, all its affiliated National Assembly members lose their seats." He added, "The government and the Minister of Justice, as the legal representative of the government, should promptly request the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Democratic Party and revoke the seats of its affiliated National Assembly members after deliberation by the State Council." As of the 22nd, the petition had 52,174 signatures.

Petition to Dismiss Justice Committee Chair Jeong Cheong-rae Also Surpasses 50,000 Signatures

[Image source=National Assembly National Consent Petition Site]

Along with this, the National Assembly petition requesting the dismissal of Jeong Cheong-rae, Chair of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which was made public on the 18th, also exceeded the 50,000 signature threshold for National Assembly review on the same day.

The petitioner, Mr. Oh, stated, "Jeong Cheong-rae, a Democratic Party member, has the duty as the chair of the Judiciary Committee to operate the committee fairly according to the Constitution and National Assembly Act, but instead, he repeatedly used abusive language and threats, forgetting the dignity that the National Assembly should uphold, and drove the Judiciary Committee into dysfunction. I petition for his expulsion from the National Assembly." He also added, "I hope the National Assembly becomes one that is not shameful before the people and that the people can accept." The petition had a total of 56,786 signatures.

In response, on the 21st, Representative Jeong said on his Facebook, "I fully support and welcome the Jeong Cheong-rae hearing," adding, "Let's clarify who violated the National Assembly Act and who abides by it." He further said, "The Yoon Seok-yeol prosecution dictatorship does as it pleases, but Jeong Cheong-rae, Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, acts according to the law."

The National Assembly National Consent Petition system requires that any proposal receiving 50,000 signatures within 30 days be referred to the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly for review. Previously, when the Democratic Party's 'Request to Propose the Impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol' petition met the review requirements, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the relevant standing committee, held the first hearing on the 19th and plans to hold a second hearing on the 26th.