Despite Unreasonable Criticism... Why the Democratic Party Insists on Impeaching Choi Sang-mok [Political Spotlight]

① A Strategic Move in Anticipation of Prolonged Impeachment Proceedings Against Yoon
② Securing Political Leadership Through Supplementary Budget and More
③ Advancing Plenary Session to Pass Resolution Urging Swift Constitutional Court Ruling

The Democratic Party of Korea's decision not to drop the impeachment card against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, despite political practicality controversies, is a complex political strategy. While there is an intention to secure leadership in the political arena, if the impeachment is carried out, the political burden is expected to be considerable.

On the 24th, Deputy Prime Minister Choi returned to his original position as Minister of Economy and Finance following Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's decision to dismiss the impeachment. The fact that Choi will be in the position of Minister of Economy and Finance, not acting president, at the time of the Democratic Party's impeachment execution is also expected to be a variable.

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Economy and Finance, is holding a meeting on external economic issues at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 24th, the Democratic Party stated that it will continue consultations with the Speaker's office regarding Deputy Prime Minister Choi's impeachment. According to the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, the plenary session is scheduled for the 27th, but there is a possibility of adjustment. They are not ruling out the option of moving the plenary session forward. In a YTN radio interview, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Soo-hyun pointed out, "The Constitutional Court ruled that the non-appointment of Constitutional Court Justice Ma Eun-hyuk violates the constitution, yet he has not been appointed," adding, "If the highest public official does not comply with the Constitutional Court's ruling, who will?"

There is also an analysis that the Democratic Party's response considers the possibility of a prolonged Constitutional Court decision regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol. The acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae and Justice Lee Mi-seon have less than a month left in their terms. It is viewed that the impeachment card against Deputy Prime Minister Choi is being used to secure a minimum number of justices in case President Yoon's impeachment is delayed. The plan is to pressure the appointment of Justice Ma through the impeachment card.

There is also an intention to seize leadership in the political arena. It is noteworthy that Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae expressed critical views on Deputy Prime Minister Choi's actions during last year's budget negotiations and this year's supplementary budget formulation.

There is also a perspective that advancing the plenary session schedule under the pretext of the impeachment vote is a strategic move to hasten the passage of a "resolution urging the Constitutional Court to deliver a swift verdict." The Constitutional Court placed importance on the effect of the National Assembly's resolution in its ruling on the authority dispute related to the appointment of Justice Ma Eun-hyuk on the 27th of last month.

At that time, some Constitutional Court justices raised concerns about Speaker Woo Won-shik conducting the authority dispute without the National Assembly's approval, but they judged that the resolution retrospectively supplemented the defect. It is believed that the Democratic Party is rushing to pass a National Assembly resolution that the Constitutional Court is conscious of, in order to accelerate the impeachment trial of President Yoon.