Kwon Seong-dong: "Lee Jae-myung Breaks Promises and Repeatedly Pushes Impeachment"

"Over 200 Seats Needed to Impeach Acting Authority"
"Democrats Rush Impeachment to Make Lee Jae-myung President"
Democratic Party Postpones Acting Authority Impeachment Proposal to 26th

Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, for breaking his promise when the Democratic Party attempted to propose an impeachment motion against Prime Minister Han Deok-su on the 24th. The Democratic Party initially planned to propose the impeachment motion as a party resolution that day but shifted its stance to wait until the 26th to observe Han's response to three demands.

Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

At a press conference held at the National Assembly that day, Acting Leader Kwon said, "On the 15th, Leader Lee promised the public that he would not impeach Acting Prime Minister Han, saying that too many impeachments cause confusion," adding, "Not even ten days after the promise, they have completely reversed their position and are recklessly pushing for impeachment again."

He continued, "The Democratic Party agreed to participate in the ruling-opposition-government consultative body for national stability," and said, "In other words, the Democratic Party itself recognized Acting Prime Minister Han as a partner for national stability, so how can they justify this schizophrenic behavior of suddenly changing their stance and pushing for impeachment?"

Acting Leader Kwon also viewed the Democratic Party's push for impeachment against Acting Prime Minister Han as legally improper. He emphasized, "The constitutional deadline for the Acting Prime Minister's veto power is January 1, but the Democratic Party arbitrarily set the date as December 24 and threatens impeachment for non-compliance, which means they intend to reign above the constitution with their 170 seats." This refers to the Democratic Party limiting the veto exercise period for the Special Prosecutor Acts on the Internal Rebellion and Kim Geon-hee.

He added, "Since the Acting Prime Minister holds a position equivalent to the President, the grounds for impeachment must be the same as those for the President," and said, "Even if more than half of the National Assembly votes in favor of the impeachment motion, it is a clear violation of the constitution, so Acting Prime Minister Han must continue to perform his duties for the country and the people as he is now." The ruling and opposition parties are at odds over the interpretation of the quorum required for impeachment if the opposition pushes for it. The ruling party insists that approval by two-thirds of all members is necessary.

Regarding the National Assembly Legislative Research Office's statement that 151 seats are sufficient for impeachment against Acting Prime Minister Han, Acting Leader Kwon said, "The head of the Legislative Research Office is effectively an appointee of the Democratic Party, so they likely issued an opinion aligned with the party's wishes," and added, "It is important that opinions come from a neutral position. The chief expert of the National Assembly Steering Committee clearly stated in the legislative review report that impeachment of the Acting Prime Minister requires 200 votes, not 151."

Furthermore, he said, "The only reason the Democratic Party is rushing impeachment like this is one: to make Lee Jae-myung president," and added, "If an early presidential election occurs, they intend to cover up Leader Lee's judicial risks through the election."

Meanwhile, Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, met with reporters at the National Assembly after Acting Leader Kwon's press conference and said, "The impeachment motion against Acting Prime Minister Han was adopted as a party resolution," adding, "We will immediately request the appointment of a standing special prosecutor, promptly enact the Special Prosecutor Acts on Kim Geon-hee and the Internal Rebellion, and wait to observe the process of immediate appointment once the National Assembly consents to the appointment of constitutional court justices at the plenary session on the 26th."