Parliamentary Meeting Held the Previous Night
Decision Delegated to Party Leadership
Choi's Impeachment Considered a Constitutional Court Variable
Concerns Over Ruling and Opposition Party Cooperation
The Democratic Party's indication of the possibility of impeaching Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, is a variable factor in the political situation. Within the party, the sentiment is that impeachment is inevitable if the nomination of Ma Eun-hyuk, a Constitutional Court justice candidate, is not approved. However, the conclusion of the two-hour parliamentary meeting held on the night of the 19th was to delegate the decision to the leadership.
Kang Yoo-jung, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, explained, "First, there was discussion about diversifying methods outside the parliament, and secondly, there were various discussions about what other responses besides impeachment could be taken regarding Acting Prime Minister Choi's impeachment." Lee Jae-myung, the party leader who sparked controversy by telling Choi to 'be careful,' did not attend the parliamentary meeting or the late-night discussion.
There is also a view that the Democratic Party's final ultimatum will fizzle out. The Constitutional Court's impeachment trial of President Yoon has entered its final countdown, and the second trial verdict on Lee's election law violation is also just a week away, which is not unrelated to the situation.
Political commentator Park Sang-byeong said, "What the Democratic Party fears most is that the impeachment of Acting Prime Minister Choi could become a new variable in the Constitutional Court's trial," adding, "While it is clear that Acting Prime Minister Choi delayed the appointment of candidate Ma and ignored the law, whether this constitutes grounds for impeachment is a separate matter."
Meanwhile, the government has expressed that excluding Acting Prime Minister Choi from the National Council for State Affairs and the emergence of threatening remarks have gone too far. There is also a perception that cooperation among the ruling party, opposition, and government has become difficult, including the drafting of a supplementary budget (Chugyeong). After the meeting of floor leaders on the 18th, both ruling and opposition parties requested the government to draft and submit the supplementary budget to the National Assembly within this month, but the government has shown reluctance.
An official from the Ministry of Economy and Finance said, "To draft the budget, multiple ministries need to work together, and if it is made without guidelines from both ruling and opposition parties, it will take a long time and will not pass." Another government official pointed out, "Discussing the supplementary budget without the government essentially means they do not intend to do it."
Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister, as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, Choi Sang-mok is reviewing documents during the government-related economic questions session held at the National Assembly plenary session on February 13, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
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