Han Dong-hoon Turns to 'Support for Impeachment'... "Discussion on Yoon's Expulsion and Party Removal"

Press Conference Held at National Assembly to Announce Statement
Han: "Party Stance on 'Rejection' Must Be Changed at Party Meeting"
President Yoon Orders Ethics Committee Meeting for Expulsion and Removal of Yoon

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, reversed his stance on June 12 and expressed support for the 'Impeachment Motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol.' Initially, the party had set opposition to impeachment as its official position under the slogan of an 'orderly early resignation,' but as President Yoon showed no intention to step down, Han also changed his position. At a press conference held at the National Assembly main building that day, Han said, "Since it has been confirmed that the president has no intention of early resignation, immediate suspension from duty is necessary," adding, "Further confusion must be prevented. There is only one effective way."

Yonhap News

The 'effective way' Han referred to is the passage of the presidential impeachment motion. Han announced that People Power Party lawmakers would participate in the second impeachment vote scheduled for the 14th. He said, "At the next vote, our party members should attend the meeting room and participate in the vote according to their beliefs and conscience."

Han ultimately brought up the passage of the impeachment motion because President Yoon did not accept the early resignation plan proposed by the party. The day before, the People Power Party's political stabilization task force (TF) presented a plan to hold a presidential election within 60 days after a resignation in February or March next year to the presidential office. However, the presidential office seemed to judge that it was better to face impeachment proceedings rather than choosing the early resignation plan proposed by the party. In a Q&A session with reporters after the announcement, Han said, "(The lack of intention to resign) was confirmed through various channels."

The presidential impeachment motion will pass if at least eight of the 108 People Power Party lawmakers vote in favor. Previously, on the 7th, the People Power Party set opposition to impeachment as its official position, and 105 members, except for lawmakers Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Ye-ji, and Kim Sang-wook, abstained from voting. However, the party atmosphere changed ahead of the second vote. As of the morning of that day, the number of lawmakers openly supporting impeachment in the People Power Party increased from five (Kim Sang-wook, Kim Ye-ji, Kim Jae-seop, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Cho Kyung-tae) to six with the addition of lawmaker Jin Jong-oh. The passage of the impeachment motion gained momentum. Han's change of stance also appears to have been influenced by this shift in the party mood.

However, since the party's official position was 'rejection' at the time of the first impeachment vote, a party meeting must be held again to change it. The pro-Yoon faction argues that "changing the party position requires the consent of two-thirds or more." Whether the second impeachment vote will take place is also expected to be decided based on the results of the next floor leader election held that day. In this election, pro-Yoon lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong (5-term, Gangwon Gangneung) and non-Yoon faction lawmaker Kim Tae-ho (4-term, Gyeongnam Yangsan) are competing. Kim stated that he would participate in the second impeachment vote if elected floor leader, but Kwon has not yet expressed his opinion on this.

Meanwhile, Han immediately ordered the convening of the party's ethics committee upon the release of President Yoon's statement that day. Han said, "It has become even clearer that the president can no longer perform his duties," adding, "After reading the statement, I urgently ordered the convening of the party ethics committee for the expulsion and removal of Yoon Suk-yeol from the party." At the party meeting held to elect the floor leader that day, Han described the president's statement as "content that amounts to a confession of rebellion," which led to strong opposition and verbal disputes with pro-Yoon lawmakers such as Kang Myung-gu and Lee Cheol-gyu.