The Opposition Party's 'Bantan' Unity Peaks... 'Chantan' Losing Ground

Kwon Seong-dong Calls for "Deep Apology" After All Opposition-Led Impeachments Dismissed
Ruling Party Lawmakers Hold Relay Protests and Submit Petition for Dismissal in Front of Constitutional Court
Calls for Disciplinary Action Against Kim Sang-wook, Who Supported Impeachment

The People Power Party is intensifying efforts to rally public opinion against the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol as the Constitutional Court's deliberation on the impeachment trial drags on. With President Yoon having been released on the 8th and all impeachment cases against government officials led by the Democratic Party of Korea recently dismissed, there appears to be a sentiment that "it's worth trying."

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the party's floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "Among the 29 consecutive impeachments led by the Democratic Party of Korea, all eight impeachment motions ruled on by the Constitutional Court have been dismissed. Those who should be impeached for seriously violating the Constitution are not the head of the Board of Audit and Inspectors or prosecutors, but Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party," urging, "They should offer a deep apology to the people for the Democratic Party's legislative rampage, including the reckless proliferation of political impeachments."

Earlier, Kwon Young-se, emergency committee chairman, also stated at a press conference the previous day, "Since the emergency martial law on December 3 last year, our people have finally come to realize the Democratic Party of Korea's paralysis of state affairs and disruption of the constitutional order over the past two years," adding, "(Regarding President Yoon's impeachment trial) if there is any legal flaw in the decision, national confusion will inevitably worsen and adversely affect national unity," effectively defending President Yoon's emergency martial law.

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Although the party leadership does not participate in relay protests or petition submissions, citing them as "each individual lawmaker's personal conviction," the majority of People Power Party lawmakers are participating to support President Yoon. While it is difficult to take the lead in relay protests against impeachment as a party stance, fearing unnecessary provocation to the Constitutional Court, the party intends not to block collective actions by its lawmakers.

Accordingly, 62 People Power Party lawmakers have expressed their intention to join the 24-hour relay protest in front of the Constitutional Court, which began on the 11th by lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyun and Kang Seung-gyu. These lawmakers plan to continue protesting daily in teams of five until the Constitutional Court issues a decision on President Yoon's impeachment trial. Additionally, 82 lawmakers, accounting for 76% of the party's total 108 members, signed the petition for dismissal of President Yoon's impeachment, led by lawmaker Na Kyung-won and submitted on the 12th.

On the other hand, voices supporting President Yoon's impeachment under the banner of "personal conviction" are reportedly losing ground. When lawmaker Kim Sang-wook, who voted in favor of lifting the emergency martial law on December 3 and the impeachment motion against President Yoon, recently stated, "I will go on a hunger strike if President Yoon's impeachment is dismissed," a message calling for Kim's disciplinary action was posted in the ruling party lawmakers' Telegram group chat the previous day. Lawmakers Cho Bae-sook and Kang Seung-gyu expressed agreement with the request for disciplinary action against Kim. Kim responded, "As a conservative, I hold the conviction to uphold the constitutional order, democracy, and the rule of law, and my belief that the president should be impeached is an extension of that."

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