People Power Party Lawmakers Raise Possibility of 'Rejection' in Yoon's Impeachment
Procedural Issues Highlighted During the Impeachment Trial
Opposition Says, "Delayed Ruling Aims to Resolve Controversy and Achieve Unanimity"
Regarding the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol currently underway at the Constitutional Court, voices calling for 'dismissal' instead of 'rejection' are growing louder both inside and outside the People Power Party. On the streets, signs saying 'dismissal' have disappeared, and calls for 'rejection' are increasing. Why are those opposing President Yoon's impeachment putting their weight behind 'rejection'?
On the 18th, Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, posted on social media (SNS) a photo of former Presidents Rhee Syngman and Park Chung-hee as a background, alongside a photo of President Yoon Seok-yeol and himself standing side by side, with the caption "I want to see rejection." While this could be interpreted as wanting to see former Presidents Rhee Syngman, Park Chung-hee, or President Yoon, politically, it is interpreted that Governor Lee used a homonym to imply a request for the Constitutional Court to issue a 'rejection' decision regarding President Yoon's impeachment trial.
'Rejection' is a legal term meaning an administrative disposition that dismisses an application to a state agency, referring to concluding a trial without judgment on the content due to formal procedural issues. Discussions around this have gained traction following the cancellation of President Yoon's detention due to procedural problems. Until now, the People Power Party and others have focused on procedural issues rather than claims that President Yoon exercised constitutional rights related to martial law. Procedural objections have thus led to calls for 'rejection.' It appears that the ruling party believes there is a better chance in raising procedural issues rather than focusing on the declaration of martial law or the military's deployment to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission. Even lawmakers opposing impeachment within the ruling party have expressed negative views on martial law or military deployment.
Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, who is considered one of the ruling party's next presidential candidates and was known to support impeachment, mentioned in a TV Chosun interview on the 17th that the Constitutional Court's ruling is delayed beyond initial expectations, calling it an "abnormal sign." He predicted, "Considering the political leanings of the Constitutional Court justices and the delay, there might be about two justices leaning toward dismissal and one toward rejection." He also argued that categorizing him as a supporter of impeachment is an overstatement.
Yoon Sang-hyun, a People Power Party lawmaker leading voices against impeachment inside and outside the party, stated on social media (SNS), "There are clear grounds for rejection, from the loss of the principle of identity of charges to numerous violations of the Constitutional Court Act in the trial process and evidence admission, and there are more than enough reasons for dismissal as well." Recently, Yoon suggested that the Democratic Party's pressure on Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, over the appointment of Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice might reflect this atmosphere. Even those in favor of impeachment point out procedural flaws. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min noted on YTN Radio, "Procedural flaws have given President Yoon's side more grounds to resist and argue."
However, the opposition party draws a line regarding the possibility of rejection. Kim Ki-pyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker, explained in a KBS Radio interview about the delay in the Constitutional Court's ruling schedule, "There have been many issues raised, such as how to select and weigh each piece of evidence procedurally and whether the entire impeachment process was properly conducted. From the perspective of writing the decision, each point must be addressed, and it seems they are trying to reach a unanimous decision. Even if it takes a few more days, it is interpreted as hoping that the decision will help unify the country and reduce confusion."
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