Chinhan-gye "Lee Jae-myung, First Subject of National Recall System"

"UNDER 73" Group:
"If the National Recall System Is Enacted,
We Will Launch the First Recall Against Lee Jaemyung"

The 'UNDER 73' group, composed of the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction within the People Power Party and young reformists, stated, "If the National Recall System for Members of the National Assembly is enacted, we plan to initiate the first recall against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea."

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the afternoon of the 10th, Representatives Kim Sang-wook and Kim Ye-ji, along with Park Sang-soo, chairman of the Incheon Seo-gu Gap Party Committee, expressed their support for the introduction of the National Recall System for Members of the National Assembly, which Lee Jae-myung proposed in his negotiation group leader's speech at the National Assembly.

Earlier, in his speech, Lee said, "With the mission of public servants to create a country where the people are happy, I will open the door wide to a 'democratic republic,'" and added, "As the first measure, I will introduce the National Recall System for Members of the National Assembly." The recall system allows voters to dismiss elected officials during their term through a public vote.

They stated, "We propose that the National Recall System for Members of the National Assembly be introduced through bipartisan agreement by February, and that Lee be designated as the first recall target with a vote conducted accordingly," adding, "Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon also suggested considering the introduction of the National Recall System for Members of the National Assembly during his candidacy for party leader, amid the Democratic Party's push for impeachment of prosecutors, which could be seen as politically motivated false accusations."

Members of the People Power Party's pro-Japan faction and the small group 'Under73 (politicians born in 1973 or later),' including Kim Sang-wook (from left), Kim Ye-ji, former deputy spokesperson Jung Hye-rim, and Park Sang-su, head of the Incheon Seo-gu Gap party committee, are holding a press conference on the 10th at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

They continued, "We can no longer rely on unpredictable court rulings or interpretations of Article 84 of the Constitution (privilege against prosecution). Let us directly recall unfit representatives of the people with the power of the sovereign," emphasizing, "Let us put political vested interests that hide behind the shield of their term and reign over the sovereign on the judgment stand of public opinion, not in the courtroom."

Regarding the early general election slogans emerging from rallies supporting President Yoon Suk-yeol, they assessed, "They reflect the dissatisfaction of the silent majority of the people toward political vested interests." They also noted that strengthening direct democracy "may carry the risk of descending into mob rule, but the urgent need now is to reform the outdated political vested interests," adding, "With the Democratic Party's legislative dictatorship and the president's emergency decree, the elected power of the Republic of Korea is already broken. The fate of the country now depends on unelected powers, namely the judiciary."