Impeachment Motion Against Opposition's Choi Sang-mok Proposed Amid 'Han Deok-su Variable'... "Contempt for Constitutional Order" (Comprehensive)

Democratic Party Pushes Ahead with Impeachment of Choi Despite Han Duck-soo Variable
"Regardless of Whether Han Duck-soo Is Dismissed or Returns"
Plenary Vote Timing Fluid Amid Rulings for Yoon and Han

On the afternoon of the 21st, the Democratic Party of Korea and four other opposition parties jointly submitted an impeachment motion against Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. The Democratic Party plans to advance the National Assembly plenary session to report and vote on the impeachment motion. However, with the impeachment rulings for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and President Yoon Seok-yeol scheduled, and Speaker Woo Won-shik reportedly cautious about pushing for impeachment, the timing remains fluid.

The Democratic Party and four other opposition parties (the Party for National Innovation, the Progressive Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Basic Income Party) visited the National Assembly Secretariat in the afternoon to submit the impeachment motion against Acting Prime Minister Choi. This is the 30th impeachment motion initiated by the Democratic Party since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

Basic Income Party leader Yong Hye-in (from the right), Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Kim Yong-min, Innovation Party floor leader Jeong Chun-saeng, and Progressive Party lawmaker Yoon Jong-oh submitted an impeachment motion against Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, to the National Assembly Secretariat in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 21st. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Yong-min, the Democratic Party’s Deputy Floor Leader for Policy, explained to reporters immediately after submitting the impeachment motion four grounds for impeachment: ▲complicity in the December 3 insurrection ▲non-appointment of Ma Eun-hyuk as Constitutional Court Justice nominee ▲non-appointment of Ma Yong-ju as Supreme Court Justice nominee ▲refusal to request the appointment of a permanent special prosecutor candidate.

Deputy Floor Leader Kim said, "The executive branch is openly showing contempt for the Constitutional Court, and the National Assembly has submitted this impeachment motion to correct that. Contempt for the Constitutional Court’s rulings is contempt for the constitutional order itself, and furthermore, it is a denial and contempt of the very existence of the Republic of Korea."

Jung Chun-saeng, Deputy Floor Leader of the Party for National Innovation, said, "There are many unconstitutional and illegal acts by Acting Prime Minister Choi, but the most important is his lack of will to uphold the Constitution. The President or Acting Prime Minister has no authority not to appoint justices elected by the National Assembly."

Although some analyses suggested that the Democratic Party’s impeachment of Acting Prime Minister Choi lost practical significance with the Constitutional Court’s scheduled ruling on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment at 10 a.m. on the 24th, the Democratic Party pressed ahead with the impeachment procedure against Choi.

Earlier that morning, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, told reporters, "Acting Prime Minister Choi has ignored the Constitutional Court’s ruling that there is an obligation to appoint Constitutional Court justices for three weeks. If the highest public official disregards the Constitution like this, can the national order be maintained?"

No Jong-myeon, Democratic Party floor spokesperson, explained, "Whether Prime Minister Han is dismissed or returns, the facts of what happened while Acting Prime Minister Choi was in charge do not change. Some have unscientific thoughts that impeachment cannot proceed if Prime Minister Han returns, but that is not the case."

Deputy Floor Leader Kim responded to ruling party claims that suspending Acting Prime Minister Choi’s duties could paralyze the economy by saying, "The person who caused the current economic crisis is Acting Prime Minister Choi. The National Assembly, which must uphold the constitutional order, does not need to waver."

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Economy and Finance, is inspecting the preparations for the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on the 20th at the Gyeongju HICO (Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center) in Gyeongbuk, examining the floor plan of the conference hall. Photo by Yonhap News

The impeachment motion against Acting Prime Minister Choi must be reported at the first plenary session after submission and voted on within 72 hours after 24 hours have passed. Currently, a plenary session is scheduled for the 27th.

Floor spokesperson No said, "The plenary sessions scheduled for the 13th, 20th, and 27th were set all at once. There are opinions that it would be better to bring it forward." He added, "Since it has been submitted, there is no reason to delay. However, the Democratic Party cannot decide alone and will review the schedule with the Speaker. We plan to demand that the session be held quickly."

However, with the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Prime Minister Han’s impeachment scheduled for the 24th and the possibility of President Yoon Seok-yeol’s impeachment ruling as early as next week, the timing of the vote on Acting Prime Minister Choi’s impeachment motion is expected to remain fluid. Speaker Woo Won-shik is also reportedly negative about holding a separate plenary session for Choi’s impeachment. Deputy Floor Leader Kim said, "The plenary session is currently scheduled for the 27th, but we are consulting with the Speaker’s office regarding the voting schedule."