Reestablishing the Parliamentary Strategy from Scratch
Must Prevent Additional Emergency Martial Law Declaration
Ruling Party Judges Timing Right for Impeachment Resolution Support
The Democratic Party of Korea on the 4th demanded the immediate resignation of President Yoon Seok-yeol and simultaneously began preparations to propose an impeachment motion. The party stated that it is reestablishing its parliamentary strategy from scratch following the emergency martial law situation. The scheduled vote on the impeachment motion against Audit Chief Choi Jae-hae and Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo was also postponed. The party decided to mobilize all its forces for practical actions aimed at the government's resignation.
On the same day, the Democratic Party held a party meeting at the National Assembly in the morning and declared that "President Yoon's proclamation of emergency martial law is a clear violation of the Constitution." They resolved to demand △ the president's immediate voluntary resignation △ immediate initiation of impeachment procedures if he does not step down △ and to fight to the end to protect democracy and the constitutional order. Kang Yoo-jung, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, said, "If we hurry as much as possible, we will propose the impeachment motion today, report it tomorrow after the proposal, and the vote can be held 24 hours later."
The reason the Democratic Party is accelerating the impeachment motion against President Yoon is due to concerns over the government's potential additional proclamation of emergency martial law. In fact, social anxiety intensified immediately after President Yoon's sudden martial law proclamation the previous day. Within an hour of the proclamation, a martial law command post was established, and a 'Martial Law Command Post Proclamation' was announced, which essentially banned all political activities. In the foreign exchange market, panic ensued as the won-dollar exchange rate surged, approaching 1,450 won during trading.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a statement in the early morning of the 4th at the National Assembly after the resolution demanding the lifting of martial law was passed. President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law in an emergency statement on the night of the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
At the Democratic Party's closed-door parliamentary meeting, there were also warnings about the government's possible further actions using military and police forces. A senior lawmaker stated during the meeting, "The National Assembly and the people must act as one to immediately stop any possible provocations or reckless acts of local warfare."
There is also an analysis that this is a timely opportunity to secure firm support from some members of the People Power Party who participated in lifting the martial law. The quorum for passing the presidential impeachment motion is two-thirds of all members, which is 200 seats. Even combining all opposition seats, including the Democratic Party, there are only 192 seats, falling short by 8 seats. This has been a key reason why the opposition has hesitated to propose the impeachment motion. However, the situation changed rapidly immediately after the lifting of martial law. A total of 18 People Power Party lawmakers, including Kwak Kyu-taek, Kim Sang-wook, and Kim Sung-won, voted in favor of lifting the martial law in the plenary session. There is a prospect that discussions on the presidential impeachment vote could accelerate together with ruling party lawmakers who supported the vote in the opposition camp.
The possibility of criminal punishment for President Yoon has also been raised. Cho Guk, leader of the Cho Guk Innovation Party, said, "The president's proclamation of emergency martial law is illegal in itself and constitutes a crime," adding, "The complaint document has almost been prepared. There will be a complaint filed against President Yoon and his accomplices around 2 to 3 p.m. today."
Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy explained in a phone interview, "There is a high possibility that this could be grounds for impeachment against President Yoon. The key issue is whether the president went through the State Council meeting before proclaiming martial law and whether he notified the Speaker of the National Assembly. If either of these is missing, the martial law is illegal. No investigation is even necessary. This is why the opposition is tightening the reins on the president's impeachment."
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