Jin Jong-oh "Did I Vote Against Impeachment? ... Clear Falsehood"

After Private Party Speech Reported, Rebuttal Issued
No Disclosure on Impeachment Vote Support Status

Jin Jong-oh, a member of the People Power Party, denied reports that he said at a party meeting that he "voted against" the impeachment motion of President Yoon Seok-yeol, which was passed at the National Assembly on the 14th, calling them "clearly false." On the 16th, Jin Jong-oh posted on his Facebook, stating, "The JoongAng Ilbo's article today claiming that I 'voted against the impeachment' is clearly false," and added, "I did not make any such remarks at the party meeting immediately after the impeachment motion was passed."

On the 12th, Jin Jong-oh, a member of the People Power Party, spoke to reporters at the National Assembly Communication Office after stating that he would "vote in favor" of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Yonhap News.

On that day, JoongAng Ilbo reported on the atmosphere of the People Power Party's meeting held right after the impeachment motion was passed on the 14th in an exclusive article titled, "'Even pro-impeachment lawmakers voted against... The pro-Han faction that toppled the Han Dong-hoon regime.'" The article quoted a party official saying, "Only five pro-Han first-term lawmakers?Ko Dong-jin, Kim Geon, Kim So-hee, Kim Jae-seop, and Ahn Sang-hoon?were understood to have voted in favor of the impeachment motion." Notably, JoongAng Ilbo reported, "Jin Jong-oh, a Supreme Council member who had expressed abstention before the vote, claimed at the party meeting immediately after the impeachment motion passed that he actually voted against the impeachment."

Earlier, Jin Jong-oh had expressed support for the impeachment motion at a press conference before the vote. However, on the same day, during the People Power Party meeting before the impeachment motion was tabled, he met with reporters and mentioned that the second impeachment motion included allegations of conspiracy to commit rebellion against Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, the party floor leader, saying, "(Regarding Rep. Choo's allegations) Since nothing has come out yet, I don't think it's right to say our floor leader is wrong. We should make a well-judged and conscientious choice."

Some speculated that Jin Jong-oh might have voted against the impeachment motion during the vote held at 4 p.m. on the 14th based on these remarks. However, since the presidential impeachment vote is conducted by secret ballot, it is impossible to know how Jin voted. Meanwhile, Jin Jong-oh has not disclosed whether he voted in favor of the second impeachment motion.

People Power Party Supreme Council Member Jin Jong-oh, who announced his intention to resign, is leaving the National Assembly on the 14th when the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol was passed. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, on the 14th, Jin Jong-oh, along with Jang Dong-hyuk, Kim Min-jeon, and In Yo-han, four Supreme Council members of the People Power Party, tendered their resignations at the party meeting held that afternoon, taking responsibility for the passage of President Yoon's impeachment motion. According to the party's constitution and regulations, if four or more elected Supreme Council members resign, the Supreme Council is dissolved, and the party switches to an emergency committee system. Ultimately, Representative Han stepped down from his position on the 16th.

Regarding this, Jin said, "I deeply apologize to the people and party members as a member of the leadership, watching Representative Han Dong-hoon's resignation today, after failing to prevent martial law and the hope for an orderly resignation was crushed." He added, "I do not think the current political situation of the People Power Party is solely Representative Han's responsibility." He continued, "I know better than anyone the sincere heart of the representative who cares for the country and the people," and said, "You worked very hard, and I am sorry I could not protect you."