Impeachment Vote Scheduled for 7th at 7 PM
Lee Jae-myung: "Han Dong-hoon, Do Not Become an Accomplice to Insurrection"
The opposition parties have officially entered the impeachment process by reporting the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, who declared martial law. Initially, the Democratic Party was expected to proceed with the impeachment process after gauging President Yoon's intention to step down, but it is interpreted that they have accelerated the process to pressure the government and ruling party.
Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Ju-young, Cheon Ha-ram floor leader, Innovation Party lawmaker Shin Jang-sik, Progressive Party floor leader Yoon Jong-oh, Basic Income Party representative Yong Hye-in, Social Democratic Party representative Han Chang-min, and Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min submitted the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol jointly proposed by six opposition parties to the National Assembly's Legislative Affairs Office on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
On the 5th, at 12:48 a.m., the National Assembly held a plenary session and reported the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, submitted by 191 lawmakers, including 190 members from six opposition parties?the Democratic Party, the Party for National Innovation, the Reform Party, the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party, and the Social Democratic Party?as well as independent lawmaker Kim Jong-min.
The impeachment motion must be voted on between 24 hours and 72 hours after the report. If more than half of the total members of the National Assembly propose and two-thirds or more of the total members approve, the presidential impeachment motion will be passed. Once passed, President Yoon's duties will be suspended immediately. Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party’s chief spokesperson, said after the emergency supreme council meeting that day, "The vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon will be held around 7 p.m. on the 7th," adding, "We will proceed in consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly."
Initially, the opposition parties were expected to initiate impeachment after observing President Yoon’s response regarding his intention to step down. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ju-min said on the previous day’s CBS Radio program Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show, "If (President Yoon) does not voluntarily resign, we will proceed with the impeachment process," adding, "Although no deadline for voluntary resignation has been set, there should be visible movement at least within this week."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
However, as public opinion demanding President Yoon’s impeachment surged, it is interpreted that they immediately accelerated the process. Although there are considerations such as the legitimacy issue after the vacancy of a constitutional court justice and whether members of the People Power Party will defect, they have decided to pressure the government and ruling party through the impeachment motion. Kim Min-seok, the Democratic Party’s senior supreme council member, said on KBS Radio’s Jeonggyeok Sisa program regarding defection votes and the vacancy of constitutional court justices, "Essentially, is it possible to entrust President Yoon with various political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic powers and the leadership of the Republic of Korea?" He added, "I believe a second or third martial law will definitely occur. The next issue is the next issue."
The opposition parties directly pressured the People Power Party, which has set its party line against the impeachment motion. It appears they want to shake People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and others to secure more than eight defection votes. On the same day, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader, held an emergency supreme council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and said, "I called Leader Han and requested a conversation through the party leader’s secretary office, but there has been no response," adding, "If the majority continues to follow that flow (opposing the impeachment motion), the misfortune cannot be corrected. At least some, including myself, must follow the people and history. Do not become collaborators of the rebellion."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
