Park Chan-dae "Yoon's Attempt to Seize Sovereignty via Emergency Martial Law... Democracy Must Be Strengthened Through Impeachment"

Park Chan-dae, Democratic Party Floor Leader, Explains Proposal for Impeachment Motion

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appealed on the 14th, saying, "The fate of the Republic of Korea depends on the choices of each member of the National Assembly," and urged, "By supporting the impeachment, show the world that Korea's democracy is strong."

On the same day, during the proposal explanation of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol held at the National Assembly, Floor Leader Park emphasized that the experience of Gwangju in May 1980 saved Korean democracy in December 2024. He defined President Yoon as the "leader of the rebellion" and said, "It is impossible for him to perform his duties normally."

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He mentioned the similarity between Martial Law Proclamation No. 10 in May 1980 and the proclamation in December 2024, saying, "Even in the isolated situation 44 years ago, the courage of the citizens of Gwangju who faced the martial law troops at the risk of death, and the democracy they tried to protect, were the driving forces that moved us," adding, "The past helped the present, and the dead saved the living. The Republic of Korea, and Korean democracy, owe a great debt to Gwangju."

Floor Leader Park continued the question posed by Han Kang, Nobel Prize-winning author, who pondered "Can the past help the present?" while preparing her work 'The Boy is Coming,' stating, "May 1980 saved December 2024."

He said, "If there had been no citizens who rushed to the National Assembly outraged by Yoon Seok-yeol's emergency martial law on December 3rd, if the number of lawmakers who broke through police blockades and climbed over the National Assembly fence had been insufficient, if the martial law troops who entered the National Assembly by helicopter had pulled out lawmakers before the vote, if the commanders and soldiers of the martial law troops had actively followed unjust orders, the Republic of Korea now would not be different from Gwangju in May 1980."

Floor Leader Park also stated, "It is a clear violation of the constitution and a serious breach of law." Citing the failure to observe the requirements and procedures of martial law, the deployment of troops to the National Assembly and the Central Election Commission, and the consideration of detaining politicians, he defined the "December 3rd emergency martial law declaration as not only unconstitutional and illegal but also an act of rebellion by the president who mobilized the military to seize popular sovereignty to maintain his power and to control not only the executive power but also the legislative and judicial powers."

Floor Leader Park also emphasized the responsibility of the legislative branch, including the People Power Party. He urged the People Power Party lawmakers who did not participate in the first impeachment vote, causing it to fail, saying, "Grab the hem of the divine robe that runs out of the door of history," and asked, "As members of the democratic republic of Korea, as lawmakers representing the people, please vote in favor according to your conscience, prioritizing national interests."