PPP Leadership Minimizes Pressure on Constitutional Court, Intensifies Criticism of Opposition over Yoon's Impeachment
Highlighting Opposition Actions While Minimizing Adverse Impact on Trial
Kwon Seongdong: "Democratic Party Must Clearly State Acceptance of Constitutional Court Decision"
Kwon Youngse: "Claiming National Assembly's Investigative Authority in Impeachment is Ultra-Constitutional"
U.S. Designation of South Korea as Sensitive Country: "Political Turmoil Caused by Opposition Leads to Crisis"
The leadership of the People Power Party is minimizing pressure by stating they will "accept" the Constitutional Court's decision on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol, while urging a fair judgment. They appear to be distancing themselves from last-minute public opinion battles such as relay protests by ruling party lawmakers in front of the Constitutional Court and anti-impeachment rallies in various regions, aiming to avoid any potential backlash.
On the 17th, Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at an emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly, "The Democratic Party, which is inciting that a civil uprising will occur if President Yoon's impeachment is dismissed, should abandon this stance and clearly declare that they will accept the Constitutional Court's decision as soon as possible." He added, "The Constitutional Court must not be shaken by any threats and must deliver a ruling based solely on law and principles that the public can accept," emphasizing, "Only then can political confusion be minimized and the proper path to normalizing state affairs be ensured." Earlier, Kwon reaffirmed at a press conference the previous day that "Our party's official position is to accept the Constitutional Court's ruling on President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial."
Kwon Seong-dong, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader, are attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. 2025.3.17 Photo by Kim Hyun-min
Instead, the People Power Party leadership is encouraging consolidation of their support base and legitimizing the dismissal or rejection of impeachment through attacks on the Democratic Party, which is holding pro-impeachment rallies. At the emergency committee meeting that day, Kwon Young-se, the emergency committee chairman, criticized, "The Democratic Party's parliamentary dictatorship, which has caused national turmoil and crisis, has gone too far. Although impeachment has been repeatedly dismissed or rejected and the Constitutional Court has put a brake on it, they continue to run wild like a runaway locomotive with broken brakes." He continued, "The Democratic Party's impeachment record is currently eight consecutive losses, eight defeats. A normal team would apologize to their fans, replace the coach, and change their strategy, but the Democratic Party persists in self-victory and only blames others." He further emphasized, "Going one step further, Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae argues that the National Assembly should have investigative authority during impeachment prosecution," calling it "an ultra-constitutional idea where the legislature would conduct investigations and push for impeachment." This effectively supplements the basis for President Yoon's claim of "opposition party's parliamentary dictatorship" during the impeachment trial process.
As the impeachment trial of President Yoon is reportedly being prolonged due to intense debates within the Constitutional Court, the party leadership intends to avoid giving the impression of infringing on the separation of powers, which could negatively affect the trial process. Their offensive against the Democratic Party, which is waging an all-out public opinion battle in favor of impeachment, by demanding "to stop intimidating the judiciary and to accept the Constitutional Court's decision," is also interpreted as a strategy to highlight the People Power Party's relative respect for the Constitutional Court and to lead to the dismissal or rejection of President Yoon's impeachment.
Regarding the U.S. government's designation of South Korea as a sensitive country with strict restrictions on exchanges and cooperation in advanced technology fields such as nuclear power and artificial intelligence (AI), the People Power Party leadership blamed the Democratic Party. Emergency committee chairman Kwon criticized Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, saying, "He constantly reveals anti-American sentiment, criticizes the trilateral military cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, and takes to the streets with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which has been revealed to be under North Korean directives," adding, "It is no wonder that such a figure is a leading presidential candidate and that South Korea has been designated as a sensitive country."
Floor leader Kwon also pointed out the Democratic Party's first impeachment motion against President Yoon, which cited hostility toward North Korea, China, and Russia, stating, "The Democratic Party impeached President Yoon for reasons that would shock the U.S. and the Western world, and even impeached Han Duck-soo, the acting president and prime minister who is a former ambassador to the U.S." He added, "They repeatedly threaten to impeach Choi Sang-mok, the acting deputy prime minister for economic affairs, who is the acting official's deputy. Due to the impeachment rampage by the major opposition party, government officials never know when, where, or who might be suspended from duty." He further criticized, "Would government officials in South Korea, who might be impeached at any time, negotiate with a serious attitude? This political turmoil caused by the major opposition party is leading to a diplomatic and security crisis."
On the 15th, pro and con rallies for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol are being held across Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
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